Advancing Careers for Low-Income Families
The mission of the Atlanta Fed's Advancing Careers initiative is to conduct research on benefits cliffs, examine solutions that mitigate or eliminate the effects of these cliffs, and develop tools that support community and state efforts aimed at advancing family economic mobility and resilience, meet the talent needs of businesses, and ultimately contribute to a healthy economy.
Learn about Benefits Cliffs and More
CLIFF in Action
We partner with a variety of stakeholders to understand benefits cliffs and improve opportunities for economic mobility in their areas. Learn more about the customized tools and research briefs we have created to support the specific needs of our partners.
What Are Benefits Cliffs?
Low-income workers are eligible for and often receive a variety of means-tested public benefits and tax credits. When they gradually or abruptly lose these benefits as their income increases, they experience an effective marginal tax on employment income.
Policy Rules Database (PRD)
Use the Policy Rules Database in your research on public assistance programs and tax policies and in modeling benefits cliffs on career pathways.
Minimum Household Budget
The minimum household budget, based on our partnership with United for ALICE, provides county-level estimates of the household basics necessary to live and work in the modern economy.
Research and Presentations
Our research involves qualitative and quantitative studies, understanding program rules, and writing policy briefs and research reports. The research we are conducting is the foundation of all the products we develop.
About
In addition to research on benefits cliffs, the Atlanta Fed works on economic mobility and resilience through thought leadership, convening, and community engagement to foster maximum employment. These efforts help policymakers and community leaders better understand and support America’s workforce. Meet our team and explore other aspects of our work by clicking the tiles below.
Everyone's Economy
Supporting an economy that works for everyone is central to the Atlanta Fed’s role in achieving maximum employment.
Community and Economic Development
The Bank works to improve the economic mobility and resilience of low- and moderate-income communities.
Workforce Development
Workforce development supports our maximum employment mandate. Our Center for Workforce and Economic Opportunity examines labor market trends and issues affecting low-and moderate-income workers.
