Assets for Independence: Asset Building For and By Young People

Young people need assets to make the transition to adulthood. This article summarizes the four preceding articles on youth and saving, identifies policy and program implications, and suggests directions for future research. It is clear that saving is difficult for many people and throughout the life course. Efforts to help young people accumulate assets might encourage saving by parents, encourage saving by youth, or provide subsidies. The latter strategy is most likely to reduce inequities associated with socioeconomic status. These strategies do not have to be pursued in isolation, and on-going conversations across disciplines and between scholars and practitioners could yield useful insight. In addition, research on existing asset-building initiatives that combine two or more of these strategies will provide important lessons for policy and program development. This publication is part of the Assets and Education Research Symposium held at the University of Kansas on March 28 and 29, 2012. The symposium is co-organized by the School of Social Welfare at the University of Kansas and the Center for Social Development at Washington University in St. Louis. Other supporters are CFED, New America Foundation, and the Office of the Provost at the University of Kansas.