James X. Sullivan

James X. Sullivan is a Professor of Economics at the University of Notre Dame. His research focuses on poverty measurement, social welfare policies, and the economic well-being of vulnerable populations. Key areas include homelessness prevention, income/consumption inequality, welfare reform impacts, and policy evaluation through randomized controlled trials.

His work examines long-term trends in poverty, such as post-welfare reform outcomes and the effects of tax policies like the Child Tax Credit. He has conducted groundbreaking studies on interventions for single-parent families, community college completion programs, and emergency financial assistance effects on healthcare and crime.

Publications span prestigious journals like the American Economic Journal: Policy, Journal of Political Economy, and Science, with a focus on rigorous empirical analysis. Ongoing projects explore real-time poverty tracking during crises and the material well-being of marginalized groups.

Notable contributions include challenging traditional poverty metrics through consumption data analysis and advocating for holistic policy interventions. His research bridges academic rigor and actionable insights for policymakers.