Briefs
The Child Tax Credit, Black Families, and the Cost of Conditional Support
October 19, 2026
This brief, The Child Tax Credit, Black Families, and the Cost of the Conditional Support, examines how earnings requirements, adult-status restrictions, and caregiver eligibility rules limit access to the Child…
The State of the Black Labor Market
September 4, 2026
The brief, The State of the Black Labor Market, analyzes U.S. labor market data for Black workers from January to August 2026. The first eight months of 2026 produced three…
The Earned Income Tax Credit, Black Workers, and the Case for Reform: Refundable Tax Credits and Black Economic Security
August 26, 2026
This brief, The Earned Income Tax Credit, Black Workers, and the Case for Reform: Refundable Tax Credits and Black Economic Security, makes the case for protecting and strengthening the EITC…
The Tax Code and Black Wealth: How the Federal Tax Code Builds Wealth for Some and Strips It from Others
August 26, 2026
The Tax Code and Black Wealth is a policy brief series examining how the federal tax code builds wealth for some and strips it from others, organized into sub-series that…
Digging Deeper: 2026 Senate Democratic Caucus Diversity Numbers
July 31, 2026
On July 31, 2026, the Senate Democratic Caucus released an update of its demographic data on Democratic staff (find 2026 numbers here and 2025 numbers here). The analysis below ranks…
How OBBBA is Changing Higher Ed Access for Black Students
July 14, 2026
In July 2025, Congressional Republicans passed, and President Donald Trump signed, a partisan budget reconciliation package that will reshape the American economy and further erode the social safety net. These…
The Reality of Racial Economic Inequality for Black Retirees
July 10, 2026
Racial economic inequality has shaped the lives of most African Americans, and it continues into the “golden years” of retirement. In 2022, the typical white family held about $285,000 in…
Black Fatherhood and the Economics of Family Security
June 18, 2026
Father’s Day is a celebration of fathers, grandfathers, and father figures. It is also an opportunity to examine the economic conditions that shape Black fatherhood. Being present and involved is…
Motherhood, Work, and the Black Economy
May 8, 2026
For Mother’s Day, the Joint Center released a policy snapshot titled Motherhood, Work, and the Black Economy. Black mothers are central to the economic security of Black children and families.…
Billions Invested, Black Workers Must Benefit: A Case Study of Place-Based Industrial Policy in Arizona and North Carolina
May 7, 2026
With more than $80 billion of federal funding flowing into place-based initiatives in high-growth industries, the United States has an opportunity to create real economic mobility for Black workers in…