Michigan Minds podcast: The elder care gap—family duty vs. reality
March 16, 2026
It begins with a single, panicked phone call about a fallen parent or a flickering memory, but it is quickly becoming the defining white noise of a nation. As the American population ages and family structures splinter, a quiet domestic struggle has escalated into a pressing national inquiry: Who...
The real world impact of ISR research: Jeremy Levine
March 5, 2026
In this video, Jeremy Levine, Faculty Associate in the Stone Center for Inequality Dynamics at ISR, explains why victim compensation laws often fail to benefit victims of crime. I study the inequalities in the criminal legal system. Specifically, I study laws that are supposed to benefit crime...
Members of 2023 Junior Professional Researcher cohort share what they learned during their time at ISR
February 27, 2026
ANN ARBOR — Three members of the Institute for Social Research’s (ISR) 2023 Junior Professional Researcher (JPR) cohort are sharing the knowledge and experience they gained through their time in the program.Uma Hornish, Angelica Eagle, and Bolu Dogari met with current and future JPR...
Sentiment stagnates, wealth gaps grow
February 20, 2026
ANN ARBOR—Consumer sentiment stagnated this month with very little change, just 0.2 index points higher than January, according to the University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers. All index components posted insignificant movements this month; overall, consumers do not perceive any...
Justice after trauma? Race, red tape keep sexual assault victims from compensation
February 19, 2026
ANN ARBOR—Bureaucratic hurdles and racial disparities restrict access to victim compensation for adult survivors of sexual assault, deepen justice system inequities and compound trauma.The absence of police verification of a crime is the primary reason for rejection, representing 34.4% of...
Researchers use data from Health and Retirement Study to create new health-tracking index for older Americans
February 19, 2026
ANN ARBOR — Using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), researchers at the University of Michigan and Florida State University have developed a new, 10-item health survey to assess a variety of health conditions.The IAM+ index assesses numerous areas of an individual’s...
Not all gigs are equal: Informal self-employment linked to lower pay, poorer health and instability
February 11, 2026
ANN ARBOR—Not all self-employment guarantees financial security, with informal arrangements posing the greatest risks to well-being for many workers. Using machine learning to classify self-employment, a new University of Michigan study analyzed narrative job descriptions from the...
Coffee and Donuts with the SRC Director Hosted by the Life Course Development Program
February 9, 2026
The Life Course Development (LCD) program hosted January’s Coffee and Donuts with the SRC Director. Pamela Davis-Kean and Noah Webster chatted about the work LCD does and how important all social ties are to healthy aging.Noah Webster’s research with the Life Course Development (LCD)...
The real world impact of ISR research: Philippa Clarke
February 2, 2026
In this video, Philippa Clarke, research professor in ISR’s Survey Research Center, discusses the importance of neighborhood factors in understanding how we can age well. I do work in understanding aging. In particular, I’m very interested in understanding how people live in their...
Family care expectations clash with shrinking availability, dementia needs
January 29, 2026
ANN ARBOR—Americans believe that the family as a whole—especially a spouse or partner—is responsible for caring for an older adult. Biological and stepchildren have the next highest levels of obligation, according to a new University of Michigan study. Even though with...
