Professor Adele Atkinson
Professor of Practice in Financial Literacy and Wellbeing (CHASM)
Professor Atkinson's research interests are primarily around understanding the needs of financial consumers.
Workforce Economic Inclusion and Mobility (WEIM) Project: Insights from the UK
Low-wage and precarious work is increasingly being linked to financial insecurity.
The Workforce Economic Inclusion and Mobility (WEIM) project is designed to comprehensively examine the financial vulnerability of low-wage workers in the United States (US) and is run by the Center for Social Development (CSD). A research partnership has been established with CHASM to offer an international comparative of low-wage workers’ financial vulnerability from a United Kingdom (UK) perspective.
The UK element of the research aims to understand: (a) the extent of employment precarity and its characteristics; (b) the financial health of those with employment precarity; and (c) the financial support needs of those with employment precarity.
To investigate the UK element of the research, CHASM will draw from the 2023 UK Debt Need Survey, a survey developed by the Money and Pensions Service and provided by the Consumer Data Research Centre.
The US and UK comparative element of the research will then compare: (a) how employment precarity is experienced; (b) access to employer and public benefits; (c) access and use of financial products and services; and (d) the extent and difference in experiences of financial insecurity.
Research objectives
Research objectives
- To investigate the extent of employment precarity in the UK and to build a framework for understanding the financial health and support needs of those with employment precarity.
- To offer an international comparative perspective on low-wage and precarious work between the US and the UK and how different social policy landscapes might shape different experiences of financial insecurity.
- To recommend policy changes that will improve the financial security of low-wage and precarious workers.
Outputs and impact
Outputs and impact
This project provided four key outputs in the format of briefs (non-academic - e.g. a summary/policy report). Three briefs have been authored by CHASM members and a fourth co-authored by CSD and CHASM members. CHASM members also presented their findings at a hybrid roundtable event, hosted in Washington DC by the Aspen Institute, and two online dissemination events.
Mathieu Despard, Stephen Roll, Kristian Fuzi, Adele Atkinson, and Louise Overton (2026) Workforce Economic Inclusion and Stability in the United States and United Kingdom. Summary Findings
Louise Overton and Adele Atkinson (2026) The advice needs of people facing employment precarity in the UK. Policy Brief
Adele Atkinson, Kristian Fuzi and Louise Overton (2025) The financial health of precarious workers. Policy brief
Adele Atkinson, Kristian Fuzi and Louise Overton (2025) Defining and describing employment precarity in the UK context. Policy brief
Partner organisations and sponsors
Partner organisations and sponsors
Center for Social Development (CSD), Washington University in St. Louis (Project Lead)
Funded by JP Morgan Chase.
Research team
Kristian Fuzi
Research Fellow
Kris Fuzi is a Research Fellow and Research Theme Lead (Risk and Financial Wellbeing in Later Life) for the Centre on Household Assets and Savings Management
Dr Louise Overton
Associate Professor in Social Policy
Louise's research interests focus on older people and personal finance (and personal finance-related issues), including financial security, financial advice, and the regulation of consumer financial services.