People

Dr. Pilkauskas’ research centers on how demographic, economic, and social safety net policy shifts have affected low-income families with children in the United States. The overarching goal of her work is to enhance the lives of economically vulnerable families through an increased understanding of the trends that are shaping family structure/experiences and the impact of social safety net design and policies. The two key areas of focus for her work include: 1) children’s living arrangements, including trends in and the social welfare consequences of multigenerational and doubled-up households; and 2) income support and the social safety net, including scholarship on tax credits, unconditional cash transfers, employment, hardship and food security policies.