Dr. Kathryn Edin

Biography

Kathryn Edin is one of the nation’s leading poverty researchers, specializing in qualitative mixed-method research. She has significantly contributed to understanding the dynamics of urban poverty, particularly focusing on single mothers and their struggles with welfare and work. Her hallmark research relies on direct, in-depth observations of low-income women, men, and children. Edin has authored eight books and over sixty journal articles, with her co-authored work $2 a Day: Living on Almost Nothing in America (with Luke Shaefer) receiving widespread critical acclaim and being named one of the New York Times' 100 Notable Books of 2015. This work has been cited for its essential reporting on the rise of destitute families. Additionally, she serves as the principal investigator for the Future Families Study and is a trustee of the Russell Sage Foundation, as well as a founding member of the MacArthur Foundation-funded Network on Housing Families with Young Children. She has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Political and Social Sciences, and the National Academy of Social Insurance. Edin has previously taught at various prestigious institutions, including Rutgers University and Harvard University.

Research Interests

Experience