TY - JOUR
T1 - A universal child allowance
T2 - A plan to reduce poverty and income instability among children in the United States
AU - Luke Shaefer, H.
AU - Collyer, Sophie
AU - Duncan, Greg
AU - Edin, Kathryn
AU - Garfinkel, Irwin
AU - Harris, David
AU - Smeeding, Timothy M.
AU - Waldfogel, Jane
AU - Wimer, Christopher
AU - Yoshikawa, Hirokazu
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 Russell Sage Foundation.
PY - 2018/2
Y1 - 2018/2
N2 - To reduce child poverty and income instability, and eliminate extreme poverty among families with children in the United States, we propose converting the Child Tax Credit and child tax exemption into a universal, monthly child allowance. Our proposal is based on principles we argue should undergird the design of such policies: universality, accessibility, adequate payment levels, and more generous support for young children. Whether benefits should decline with additional children to reflect economies of scale is a question policymakers should consider. Analyzing 2015 Current Population Survey data, we estimate our proposed child allowance would reduce child poverty by about 40 percent, deep child poverty by nearly half, and would effectively eliminate extreme child poverty. Annual net cost estimates range from $66 billion to $105 billion.
AB - To reduce child poverty and income instability, and eliminate extreme poverty among families with children in the United States, we propose converting the Child Tax Credit and child tax exemption into a universal, monthly child allowance. Our proposal is based on principles we argue should undergird the design of such policies: universality, accessibility, adequate payment levels, and more generous support for young children. Whether benefits should decline with additional children to reflect economies of scale is a question policymakers should consider. Analyzing 2015 Current Population Survey data, we estimate our proposed child allowance would reduce child poverty by about 40 percent, deep child poverty by nearly half, and would effectively eliminate extreme child poverty. Annual net cost estimates range from $66 billion to $105 billion.
KW - Child poverty
KW - Child tax credit
KW - Income instability
KW - Social welfare policy
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U2 - 10.7758/rsf.2018.4.2.02
DO - 10.7758/rsf.2018.4.2.02
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85056827875
SN - 2377-8253
VL - 4
SP - 22
EP - 42
JO - RSF
JF - RSF
IS - 2
ER -