NCID-2531
Natasha Pilkauskas
Associate Professor of Public Policy
University of Michigan
Education/Degree:
1 (Columbia University)
About
Natasha Pilkauskas is an Associate Professor of Public Policy at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan. Pilkauskas’ research considers how demographic, social safety net, and economic shifts in the U.S. affect low-income families with children. Specifically, her work examines children’s shared living arrangements, economic insecurity among vulnerable populations, and the effects of cash transfers, such as tax credits, on low-income families. Much of Pilkauskas’ research focuses on early childhood, a time when poverty and instability are known to have long-lasting detrimental effects on children’s health and development, and when social policies have been shown to have some of the strongest impacts on improving children’s life chances. Pilkauskas holds a Ph.D. in social welfare policy from Columbia University, a Masters in Public Policy from Harvard University and a B.A in Economics and Sociology from Northwestern University.
Current Work
Dr. Pilkauskas’ research considers how demographic, social safety net, and economic shifts in the U.S. affect families and children with low-incomes. One strand of her research focuses on the living arrangements of children‚ especially those who live multigenerational households. A second aspect of her work considers economic insecurity, poverty and family well-being. A third area focuses on how social policy, and in particular cash transfer policies, like the Earned Income Tax Credit, might improve the developmental and life trajectories of children living in poverty. Dr. Pilkauskas' current research projects include several studies of both the Earned Income Tax Credit and the temporary expansion to the 2021 Child Tax Credit.
Research Area Keyword(s)
poverty, social policy, Family demography, Child wellbeing, Economic well-being