In times of economic difficulties, having to pay a child through college could be a major reason for a family to lose their home. This is according to two US researchers, Jacob Faber of New York University and Peter Rich of Cornell University, in a study published in Springer’s journal Demography. Their investigations show that during the Great Recession of the 2000s, banks often foreclosed on the homes of families who were supporting their children’s further education. Faber and Rich therefore recommend that policymakers look for other ways to alleviate families’ financial burdens in addition to curbing risky mortgages.