About the Poverty Research Unit

The Poverty Research Unit measures poverty and economic hardship in New York City and analyzes how policies and economic conditions affect people's lives. We use this research to help City leaders make better decisions about funding, policy, and programs promoting equitable economic mobility for all New Yorkers. The influence of this work extends beyond New York City.  PRU’s locally tailored poverty measure helped inform the federal Supplemental Poverty Measure and set a new standard for how poverty is measured nationwide.

Measuring poverty accurately

The Poverty Research Unit produces the official City measure of poverty.  Charter-mandated measure reflects how local living costs, government assistance programs, and non-discretionary expenses impact a family's ability to meet essential needs. This measure  gives an accurate picture of how many New Yorkers are struggling financially. With over 300 academic citations, this measure has helped shape national approaches to poverty measurement and is used to guide policy decisions and track progress across the City. 

Building on this measure we analyze what drives poverty: labor market trends, wages, and the cost of essentials like housing and healthcare. This helps policymakers understand what's causing hardship and what solutions might work.

Policy simulations and impact evaluations

We analyze how new programs and initiatives would affect household finances and economic security — including who benefits and whether outcomes are equitable — to help decision-makers understand real-world impact before implementation. 

Centering social and racial equity

We produce detailed research on the particular experiences of underserved communities, including the annual Economic Profile of Immigrants in New York City. These studies provide insight into income and employment disparities, among other measures of economic equity. This work is widely used across government, research, and advocacy—and has been cited in legal filings and public health studies.

Data tools for policymakers and the public

The Poverty Research Unit aggregates various types of data from surveys and administrative records to create a complete picture of how poverty affects New Yorkers and how programs reach (or don’t reach) the people who need them. We share our findings with the public through tools like the NYC Poverty Atlas, the Workforce Data Portal, and EquityNYC.  Explore each of these tools below to learn more about Citywide poverty trends, performance of City-funded job training programs, and neighborhood-level servi ce and resource disparities. 

How our work is used

The Poverty Research Unit is staffed by economists and data experts who work directly with City agencies to put evidence into decision-making. Our research shapes major City decisions, including:

• How the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene designs and funds health programs
• How the Department of Education and New York City Independent Budget Office track student and school performance
• How the City funds immigrant services and support, like NYC Care and other healthcare initiatives
• How much help low-income New Yorkers get with energy costs
• Which neighborhoods get resources through participatory budgeting programs (where residents decide how City money is spent)