A Universal Child Allowance: A Plan to Reduce Poverty and Income Instability Among Children in the United States
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...
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2018-02-01
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Online Access: | https://www.rsfjournal.org/doi/full/10.7758/RSF.2018.4.2.02 |
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doaj-e36aa34cecf64de58bed94ecc59d61852020-11-25T00:47:25ZengRussell Sage FoundationRSF: The Russell Sage Foundation Journal of the Social Sciences2377-82532377-82612018-02-0142224210.7758/RSF.2018.4.2.02A Universal Child Allowance: A Plan to Reduce Poverty and Income Instability Among Children in the United StatesH. Luke Shaefer0Sophie Collyer1Greg Duncan2Kathryn Edin3Irwin Garfinkel4David Harris5Timothy M. Smeeding6Jane Waldfogel7Christopher Wimer8Hirokazu Yoshikawa9University of MichiganColumbia University School of Social WorkUniversity of California, IrvineJohns Hopkins UniversityColumbia University School of Social WorkChildren’s Research and Education InstituteUniversity of Wisconsin–MadisonColumbia University School of Social WorkColumbia University School of Social WorkNew York UniversityTo 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.https://www.rsfjournal.org/doi/full/10.7758/RSF.2018.4.2.02child povertychild tax creditincome instabilitysocial welfare policy |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
H. Luke Shaefer Sophie Collyer Greg Duncan Kathryn Edin Irwin Garfinkel David Harris Timothy M. Smeeding Jane Waldfogel Christopher Wimer Hirokazu Yoshikawa |
spellingShingle |
H. Luke Shaefer Sophie Collyer Greg Duncan Kathryn Edin Irwin Garfinkel David Harris Timothy M. Smeeding Jane Waldfogel Christopher Wimer Hirokazu Yoshikawa A Universal Child Allowance: A Plan to Reduce Poverty and Income Instability Among Children in the United States RSF: The Russell Sage Foundation Journal of the Social Sciences child poverty child tax credit income instability social welfare policy |
author_facet |
H. Luke Shaefer Sophie Collyer Greg Duncan Kathryn Edin Irwin Garfinkel David Harris Timothy M. Smeeding Jane Waldfogel Christopher Wimer Hirokazu Yoshikawa |
author_sort |
H. Luke Shaefer |
title |
A Universal Child Allowance: A Plan to Reduce Poverty and Income Instability Among Children in the United States |
title_short |
A Universal Child Allowance: A Plan to Reduce Poverty and Income Instability Among Children in the United States |
title_full |
A Universal Child Allowance: A Plan to Reduce Poverty and Income Instability Among Children in the United States |
title_fullStr |
A Universal Child Allowance: A Plan to Reduce Poverty and Income Instability Among Children in the United States |
title_full_unstemmed |
A Universal Child Allowance: A Plan to Reduce Poverty and Income Instability Among Children in the United States |
title_sort |
universal child allowance: a plan to reduce poverty and income instability among children in the united states |
publisher |
Russell Sage Foundation |
series |
RSF: The Russell Sage Foundation Journal of the Social Sciences |
issn |
2377-8253 2377-8261 |
publishDate |
2018-02-01 |
description |
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. |
topic |
child poverty child tax credit income instability social welfare policy |
url |
https://www.rsfjournal.org/doi/full/10.7758/RSF.2018.4.2.02 |
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