PEEP’s mission is to create a hyper-local information system of comprehensive socioeconomic data to provide actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners who share our goal of combating economic hardship and inequity. We achieve this with unique features of our research program that enable us to give rich, timely information about the life experiences of Philadelphians.
PEEP creates a hyper-local information system by integrating data from multiple sources, including surveys, interviews, and administrative records. Our work began with the launch of our initial longitudinal panel study in 2023, which we adapted from Columbia University’s New York City Poverty Tracker.
About the Research
Research Design
We recruit samples for our panel studies to be representative of the diverse population living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This city is home to substantial sub-populations that are traditionally under-sampled and underrepresented in national data collection, including communities of racial and ethnic minorities, and low-education, low-income households.
We use an intentionally designed sampling plan in conjunction with a mixed-modes data collection process to capture the full spectrum of Philadelphian’s experiences as accurately as possible.
Background
The Philadelphia Economic Equity Project is based at the Weitzman School of Design. It builds on the foundational work of the Columbia University and Robin Hood’s Poverty Tracker survey.
The original Poverty Tracker survey is a partnership between the Columbia Population Research Center (CPRC), the Columbia Center on Poverty and Social Policy, and Robin Hood. Their approach provides a dynamic view of poverty in New York City over time. PEEP extends this view into economic hardship and mobility in Philadelphia.