Our Research
Commonwealth conducts original qualitative and quantitative research with financially vulnerable people—including Black, Latinx, and women-led households who disproportionately experience financial insecurity. We also interview industry experts and academics. We take what we learn and translate findings into actionable insights and practical solutions designed to change systems to work better for financially vulnerable people. We work with community groups, employers, financial services firms, fintechs, policymakers, and workplace solution providers to design and test real-world, practical solutions that not only work for individuals and families, but are also scalable and address the business needs of our partners.
We share the results of our work to provide you with innovative ideas, practical insights, and the tools you need to act. Explore our publications below.
A Wealth Building Blueprint
After an additional year of research, our Wealth Building Blueprint is updated to reflect the progress we’ve made and future paths for our wealth building work.
How Retail Investing Platforms Can Create a More Inclusive Investing Environment
Commonwealth’s pilot with Public.com provides research and recommendations for investing platforms looking to create a more inclusive investing environment.
Evaluating the Impact of Income Volatility Benefits on Gig Workers
The Financial Benefits Project explores the financial needs of gig workers and outlines recommendations for employer benefits that reduce the impact of income volatility.
Emergency Savings Features That Work for Employees Earning Low to Moderate Incomes
Research from Commonwealth and DCIIA RRC identifies how emergency savings solutions can be best designed and offered to workers earning low to moderate incomes.
Emergency Savings & Retirement
Emergency savings is crucial to building financial security. Unfortunately, millions of people lack access to these proven tools from employers, financial institutions, and other actors. Providing an emergency savings account product through the workplace is key to raising financial security…
The Impact of the Enhanced Child Tax Credit on Lower-Income Households
Commonwealth, SaverLife, and Neighborhood Trust assessed the impact of the enhanced Child Tax Credit on eligible families’ financial health.
Tech for Good Toolkit
Commonwealth’s Emerging Tech for All (ETA) initiative aims to ensure that the design of new financial technologies integrates the needs, wants, and aspirations of people living on low to moderate incomes (LMI). We are shedding light on these perspectives by…
A Case Study in Credit Building
Commonwealth partnered with LOQBOX to research and recommend improvements to credit-building tools, and evaluate their impact on people living on low to moderate incomes.
Digital Payments and the New Opportunity to Increase Savings
Our research uncovers opportunities for high-quality savings products in contactless payment apps.
A Case Study in Workplace
Emergency Savings
Providing an emergency savings option through the workplace is key to improving financial security and ultimately building wealth for low- to moderate-income (LMI) workers.