Catching most experts by surprise, a census-based study by Child Trends shows that child poverty decreased by 59% between 1993 and 2019, from one child in four to one in 10.
The authors attribute this largely to increased minimum wages, fewer teen births, low unemployment, single mothers entering the workforce, children living with grandparents on social security, and federal programs like the Earned Income Tax Credit and housing subsidies. BIPOC children benefitted similarly to White children.
As caveats, most experts don’t think the federal poverty level covers basic needs. Also, children in deep poverty, defined as less than 50% of the federal level, made fewer gains. Nevertheless, this appears to represent major progress.
Since poverty is the biggest driver of child maltreatment, rates of abuse and neglect should also have declined. In fact they have. More on that next week.
For a more detailed analysis of this Child Trends study including impact on racial disparities listen to our podcast or read the podcast narrative here.