Release: Scott Winship, Former Executive Director of the Joint Economic Committee in Congress, Becomes Director of Poverty Studies at the American Enterprise Institute

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Washington, DC (September 10, 2020) — American Enterprise Institute (AEI) President Robert Doar and Ryan Streeter, director of Domestic Policy Studies at AEI, announced today that Scott Winship, who served most recently as the executive director of the Joint Economic Committee (JEC) in Congress, has joined AEI as a resident scholar and the director of poverty studies.

At AEI, Dr. Winship will continue his work on social mobility and the causes and consequences of poverty in America. He will also focus on economic insecurity and inequality, while leading AEI’s team of poverty scholars.

During his time at the JEC, Winship created the Social Capital Project, a multiyear research project that investigates the evolving nature of social relationships, including within families, communities, workplaces, and religious congregations. Earlier, Dr. Winship worked for several research institutions, including the Manhattan Institute, the Brookings Institution, and the Pew Charitable Trusts. In addition to his research experience, Dr. Winship has testified often before Congress.

Dr. Winship has been published widely, including in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post, and in 2014, he was a contributor to the antipoverty volume “Room to Grow: Conservative Reforms for a Limited Government and a Thriving Middle Class” (YG Network, 2014). His broadcast appearances include CNN, National Public Radio, and “PBS NewsHour.”

He has a PhD in social policy and an MA in sociology from Harvard University, and he holds a BA in sociology and urban studies from Northwestern University.

“We are delighted that Scott Winship is joining AEI to focus on the causes and effects of poverty. He is one of America’s most important voices on the best ways to help struggling Americans move up. Scott is an invaluable addition to the Institute,” said AEI President Robert Doar.

Added Ryan Streeter, director of Domestic Policy Studies at AEI, “Scott’s work on the importance of social capital — the social relationships that make a difference in our daily lives, in our communities, and at work — is unique and crucial. His reputation as a thought leader on issues related to inequality and mobility is well-deserved, and we all look forward to working together with him at AEI.”

Said Scott Winship, “I am thrilled to join AEI and its community of scholars and look forward to continuing my work on poverty and income inequality — all issues that fit in well with AEI’s mission to increase individual opportunity.”

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