Through research, public education, civic action, and policy reforms, our aim is to promote savings opportunities and incentives for Americans of modest means and to establish thrift as a broadly achievable, financially rewarding and culturally favored way of life.
Our work began in 2005 with a scholarly inquiry into the meaning and history of thrift as an American value and practice. Back then, thrift had been nearly forgotten. Indeed, many smart people at the time argued that
Lotteries are government-sponsored anti-thrift institutions that encourage citizens to bet their money. We propose repurposing the lottery to encourage citizens to save their money. Read more
Is it true, as the New York Times claims that "[p]utting away money and paying down debt may be good for one family's kitchen-table economics, but the broader economy suffers in the short run when millions of families do it"? The author presents 5 reasons why the ethic of thrift is wise and rational not only for the individual but also for society. Read more
There are enough solid studies on family structure, saving, and wealth to make a clear case that marriage and thrift — the nest and the nest-egg — are interconnected. Read more
For a New Thrift calls for efforts to rebuild broadly democratic, pro-thrift institutions that will serve and reward the "small saver." Read more
Thrift advocates encouraged self-discipline and personal responsibility, they also believed in the power of cooperative bonds. Read more
In this spirited defense of philanthropic freedom, Claire Gaudiani traces how this nation's distinctive tradition of citizen-to-citizen generosity has been a powerful engine of economic growth, social justice, and upward mobility. Read more
This book is an extended reflection, and a preliminary bringing together of knowledge, on the English word "thrift." Read more
