Elizabeth Powers

Research and Analysis

Our research informs the public and policymakers by examining economic issues of importance to those in our local communities, across the nation, and around the world.
- Research groups
- By publication
  
  We publish research and analyses to keep audiences informed of economic trends in our region and nationwide. View latest releases or explore our archive.
- Inflation questions?
  Visit our Center for Inflation Research for all things inflation—from general information on how inflation works and why it matters to the latest data and analysis on current inflationary trends.

Region and Community

We represent and gather information from the Fourth Federal Reserve District, spanning Ohio and parts of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Kentucky. These resources are useful for our region, the communities we serve, and communities across the United States.
- Our region
  
  Learn about our work to advance understanding of economic trends affecting the Fourth District.
- Community resources
  
  The Cleveland Fed offers numerous resources to promote economic opportunity for residents across our region.
- Events
  
  Hear from local leaders and community development experts about economic problems their communities face and the solutions they are putting forth.
- By topic
  
  Looking for the Fed’s work on a particular subject? Narrow your search to the areas that interest you.

Education

Learn economic basics, dive into inflation, and get educational resources and games for yourself or to share with others.
- What’s new?
  
  Explore the latest educational resources from the Cleveland Fed—from interactive articles and video explainers to games and virtual exhibits.
- Programs and resources
  
  Looking for fun, informative ways to learn or teach economics and finance? Browse the Fed’s suite of educational programs and resources.
- Visits and tours
  
  Visit us virtually or in person to learn more about our history and our ongoing work to promote financial literacy throughout our region.

Banking and Payments

We supervise and regulate financial institutions, support American consumers’ financial security, and maintain the financial stability and payment systems for the US Treasury.
- Banking research and tools
  
  The Cleveland Fed provides a range of tools for tracking trends in the lending environment.
- For consumers
  
  Learn about the resources we offer to help people in the community navigate the financial system.
- For financial institutions
  
  Understand the various requirements for Fed-chartered financial institutions and discover the range of services available to them—from cash services and reserve balance data to the discount window.
- Supporting the financial system
  
  Find out how the Cleveland Fed supervises and regulates member banks to ensure financial-system stability and support the US Treasury.

About Us

We serve the American people as part of the US central bank. We support the US economy and our region by studying economic conditions and issues that impact our communities, serving financial institutions, and providing economic education and resources for all.
- Our leadership
  
  Meet the individuals leading our mission, including the president and executive leadership team, advisory council members, and the boards of directors of each Cleveland Fed branch.
- Our work in the community
  
  Community outreach is central to the Fed’s mission. Find out about new programs, upcoming events, and other ways to connect with us.
- Who we are
  
  The Fed does far more than inform monetary policy. Learn about the mission, structure, and role of our organization, both regionally and nationally.
- We have a long-standing commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and opportunity for our employees and the communities we serve.

Person

Elizabeth Powers is a contributing author and former employee of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland.

Working Papers

Working Paper

Consequences of Means Testing Social Security: Evidence from the SSI Program

David Neumark Elizabeth Powers

11.01.1996 | WP 96-18

We attempt to draw inferences about the potential behavioral responses to means testing Social Security by examining the effects of the Supplementary Security Income (SSI) program for the aged on wealth accumulation and employment.

Working Paper

Fertility and Welfare Participation

Elizabeth Powers

12.01.1995 | WP 95-16

Despite the attention that the fertility of welfare recipients has received recently, surprisingly little is known about it.

Working Paper

Does Means-Testing Welfare Discourage Saving? Evidence from the National Longitudinal Survey of Women

Elizabeth Powers

12.01.1995 | WP 95-19

This paper empirically tests whether the asset limit associated with the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program discourages wealth accumulation by actual and prospective participants.

Working Paper

The Impact of AFDC on Birth Decisions and Program Participation

Elizabeth Powers

06.01.1994 | WP 94-08

A longitudinal study examining how the level of AFDC benefits and the per-child increment affect births. Although the findings support the

Economic Commentaries

Economic Commentary

Welfare Reform and the Cyclicality of Welfare Programs

Elizabeth Powers

06.01.1996 | EC 6/1/1996

When the Federal Reserve System was established in 1914, part of its purpose was

Economic Commentary

Growth and Poverty Revisited

Elizabeth Powers

04.15.1995 | EC 4/15/1995

In the 1960s, economic growth seemed to be the tonic for poverty. From 1960 to 1969, real gross domestic product (GDP) grew at a 4.1 percent average annual rate, while the percentage of all persons in poverty declined at an annualized 5.9 percent.

Economic Commentary

Understanding Differences in Regional Poverty Rate

Elizabeth Powers Max Dupuy

11.15.1994 | EC 11/15/1994

The U.S. poverty rate is among the most widely used indicators of the nation’s economic success—and of how that success is shared.

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