Child Poverty in the United States
Written By Melissa Kearney
The United States has one of the highest rates of child poverty among high-income countries. While government policies have played an important role in improving the material well-being of poor children over the past four decades, much remains to be done. The cost of driving down rates of child poverty through targeted cash transfers to low-income families would be substantial, but it would take a relatively small fraction of GDP. A meaningful reduction in child poverty would have positive long-term effects for the children whose lives are improved and for society at large.
