Melody Harvey
Assistant Professor
Department of Consumer Science
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Melody Harvey is an Assistant Professor of Consumer Science at University of Wisconsin–Madison. She is also a Faculty Affiliate at La Follette School of Public Affairs. She is a social scientist who studies how public policies affect financial capability among economically vulnerable populations. Her current research encompasses three main domains: (1) assessing the effects of K–12 financial education policies on youth and young adults’ financial outcomes across different socioeconomic groups; (2) investigating how financial regulations affect alternative financial services use; and (3) examining heterogeneities in consumer policy implementation. Previously, she was a National Poverty Fellow at IRP (2018–2020), which she served in residence at OPRE in Washington, DC.
Melody Harvey's Research Interests
- Consumer policy and regulation
- Financial capability and well-being
- Low- and moderate-income individuals, families, and households
- Role of K-12 education policies in shaping young adults’ finances
- Social policy
- Socioeconomic status, class, and economic standing