Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED): 2014 Assets & Opportunity Scorecard
ITEP Work in Action
In the wake of the recession, policymakers at all levels of government adopted policies aimed at hastening the recovery and increasing financial security and opportunity. Cities, counties and states created programs that connected the “unbanked” to the financial mainstream, raised the minimum wage and even encouraged poor children to save for college—significantly increasing the likelihood that they will attend and graduate. States led the way in adopting education policies to build the financial capability of youth. Federal regulators reined in the financial industry and increased consumer protections. Each of these policies helped mitigate the recession’s damage to household finances and, in states and localities where positive policies were adopted, positioned families to become more financially secure.
However, the adoption of policies varied, often dramatically, from state to state. Which states showed the greatest policy commitment to supporting residents? This year, the Assets & Opportunity Scorecard provides a comprehensive answer. In addition to ranking states on 66 outcome measures spanning five issue areas—Financial Assets & Income, Businesses & Jobs, Housing & Homeownership, Health Care and Education—the Scorecard also assesses and ranks states on 67 policies.