One Fifth of the Nation's Children: Why Are They Poor?

Abstract

Despite 20 years of concern about poverty, the most recent census figures show that 20 percent of children in the United States live in families with incomes below the poverty line. In understanding why, it is important to recognize the reasons for poverty among children in both two-parent working poor families and single-parent families. Examination of the evidence suggests that family poverty basically reflects the economic and social changes that affect most United States families.