2026 Irwin Garfinkel: Social Sciences and Humanities Researcher – H-Index, Publications & Awards

Discipline name	D-Index	World Ranking	Current World Ranking	National Ranking	Current National Ranking	Publications	Citations
Social Sciences and Humanities	56	1877	1694	899	800	233	14224

Overview

Irwin Garfinkel is affiliated with Columbia University in the United States and is primarily active in the field of social sciences. Their research spans a variety of subfields including gender studies, general health professions, sociology and political science, demography, and education.

Their main topics of work address issues such as gender, labor, and family dynamics; financial literacy, pension, and retirement analysis; intergenerational family dynamics and caregiving; food security and health in diverse populations; retirement, disability, and employment; early childhood education and development; and employment and welfare studies.

Garfinkel has contributed a number of papers focusing on child welfare, poverty reduction, and policy evaluation, among others. Recent publications include:

No Evidence The Child Tax Credit Expansion Had An Effect On The Well-Being And Mental Health Of Parents (2022, Health Affairs)
The Effects of the 2021 Monthly Child Tax Credit on Child and Family Well-Being: Evidence from New York City (2022, Socius Sociological Research for a Dynamic World)
Reducing poverty among children: Evidence from state policy simulations (2020, Children and Youth Services Review)
The Benefits and Costs of a U.S. Child Allowance (2022, SSRN Electronic Journal)
The Benefits and Costs of a Child Allowance (2022, Journal of Benefit-Cost Analysis)

Frequently, Garfinkel has collaborated with researchers such as Christopher Wimer, Sophie Collyer, Elizabeth Ananat, Robert Paul Hartley, and Jane Waldfogel. Collaborative work spans across various areas related to social policy and family dynamics.

Their publications are commonly found in venues including:

SSRN Electronic Journal
The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science
Health Affairs
Socius Sociological Research for a Dynamic World
SSM - Population Health

Best Publications

Fragile Families: Sample and Design

Nancy E. Reichman;Julien O. Teitler;Irwin Garfinkel;Sara S. McLanahan

1849
Citations
Single Mothers and Their Children: A New American Dilemma

Irwin Garfinkel

1396
Citations
Parental Incarceration and Child Well-Being: Implications for Urban Families†

Amanda Geller;Irwin Garfinkel;Carey E. Cooper;Ronald B. Mincy

513
Citations
Beyond Absenteeism: Father Incarceration and Child Development

Amanda B. Geller;Carey E. Cooper;Irwin Garfinkel;Ofira Schwartz-Soicher

467
Citations
Paternal Incarceration and Support for Children in Fragile Families

Amanda Geller;Irwin Garfinkel;Bruce Western

398
Citations
A Structural Model of Labor Supply and Child Care Demand.

Charles Michalopoulos;Philip K. Robins;Irwin Garfinkel

384
Citations
Social disadvantage, genetic sensitivity, and children’s telomere length

Colter Mitchell;John Hobcraft;Sara S. McLanahan;Susan Rutherford Siegel

372
Citations
The gender poverty gap: what can we learn from other countries?

Lynne M. Casper;Sara S. McLanahan;Irwin Garfinkel

327
Citations
The effect of paternal incarceration on material hardship

Ofira Schwartz-Soicher;Amanda B. Geller;Irwin Garfinkel

269
Citations
Evaluating welfare and training programs

Charles F. Manski;Irwin Garfinkel

262
Citations
Wealth and Welfare States: Is America a Laggard or Leader?

Irwin Garfinkel;Lee Rainwater;Timothy M. Smeeding

252
Citations
Single mothers and their children

Irwin. Garfinkel;Sara. McLanahan

249
Citations
Fathers Under Fire: The Revolution in Child Support Enforcement

Irwin Garfinkel;Sara S. McLanahan;Daniel R. Meyer;Judith A. Seltzer

196
Citations
Child Care and School Performance in Denmark and the United States.

Gosta Esping-Andersen;Irwin Garfinkel;Wen Jui Han;Katherine Magnuson

192
Citations
Child support enforcement and fathers' contributions to their nonmarital children.

Lenna Nepomnyaschy;Irwin Garfinkel

187
Citations
A Re-Examination of Welfare States and Inequality in Rich Nations: How In-Kind Transfers and Indirect Taxes Change the Story.

Irwin Garfinkel;Lee Rainwater;Timothy M. Smeeding

178
Citations
The Great Recession, Public Transfers, and Material Hardship.

Natasha V. Pilkauskas;Janet M. Currie;Irwin Garfinkel

169
Citations
Waging War on Poverty: Poverty Trends Using a Historical Supplemental Poverty Measure

Liana E Fox;Christopher Wimer;Irwin Garfinkel;Neeraj Kaushal

155
Citations
Beyond Income Poverty: Measuring Disadvantage in Terms of Material Hardship and Health.

Kathryn M. Neckerman;Irwin Garfinkel;Julien O. Teitler;Jane Waldfogel

151
Citations
In-Hospital Paternity Establishment and Father Involvement in Fragile Families.

Ronald Mincy;Irwin Garfinkel;Lenna Nepomnyaschy

150
Citations
Single Mothers, the Underclass, and Social Policy

Sara McLANAHAN;Irwin Garfinkel

148
Citations
Evaluating Welfare and Training Programs.

Robert J. LaLonde;Charles F. Manski;Irwin Garfinkel

3
Citations

Frequent Co-Authors

Sara McLanahan Princeton University

Jane Waldfogel Columbia University

Jeanne Brooks-Gunn Columbia University

Julien O. Teitler Columbia University

Wen Jui Han New York University

Nancy E. Reichman Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Bruce Western Columbia University

Janet Currie Princeton University

Marta Tienda Princeton University

John S. Akin University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

External Links

Personal website of Irwin Garfinkel

If you think any of the details on this page are incorrect, let us know.

Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

Exploring Social Sciences and Humanities opens the door to diverse career options in areas like counseling, therapy, psychology, and social work. Today, flexible online programs make it easier than ever to earn respected credentials while balancing other commitments.

For those interested in becoming licensed counselors, reviewing the cacrep accredited online programs is a crucial first step. These accredited programs ensure quality education and are often prerequisites for licensure.

If you are passionate about helping families and couples, consider accredited online mft programs accredited for marriage and family therapy. These degrees prepare students for impactful roles in a growing field.

For broader foundational knowledge, a bachelor of science in psychology offers versatility—providing skills for roles in business, research, mental health, and more.

Aspiring social workers should investigate online msw program options, balancing accessibility and affordability. These pathways help build expertise for making a real difference in communities, clinical settings, and beyond.