People

Melody HarveyAssistant Professor of Consumer Science

I am a social scientist who draws on policy analysis, economics, and demography to study how public policies affect financial capability, financial decisions, and financial well-being among economically vulnerable populations in the United States. I seek to understand what is needed in public policy through which mechanisms to improve their financial health and to ultimately enhance their financial capability. Currently, my research focuses on three major areas: 1) the role of financial regulations on high-cost borrowing among low- and moderate-income consumers, 2) the effects of social welfare policies on low- and moderate-income consumers’ financial decision-making, and 3) the effects of K-12 financial education policies on youth and young adults’ personal finances.

Selected Publications

Harvey, M. (2019). Impact of Financial Education Mandates on Younger Consumers’ Use of Alternative Financial Services. Journal of Consumer Affairs, 53(3), 731-769. https://doi.org/10.1111/joca.12242

For a full list of publications, see Harvey’s CV.

Featured Media

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Department

  • Consumer Science

Degree Program

  • PhD Human Ecology: Consumer Behavior & Family Economics

Affiliations

Education

  • PhD, Policy Analysis, Pardee RAND Graduate School
  • MPP, Pepperdine University
  • BA, Economics, Reed College

Contact

Office: 4204 Nancy Nicholas Hall

Phone: 608-262-9213

Email: maharvey3@wisc.edu

Websites: