Title: The Role of Single Motherhood in America’s High Child Poverty
Authors: Regina S Baker, David Brady, Ryan FinniganAbstract: Many claim America’s high child poverty results from a high prevalence of single motherhood, and reducing single motherhood would substantially reduce child poverty. Using the Luxembourg Income Study, we first compare the “prevalences and penalties” for child poverty across 30 rich democracies. We then analyze 31 years of U.S. data over four decades. The U.S. actually has a moderate, typical, and stable prevalence of single motherhood. In recent decades, American child poverty and the prevalence of single motherhood have trended in opposing directions. The U.S. has one of the highest single motherhood penalties, and penalties vary far more than prevalences, yet it remains the smallest penalty of the major risks. Counterfactual simulations demonstrate that reducing single motherhood would not substantially reduce child poverty. Even with zero single motherhood: (a) the U.S. would maintain the fourth highest child poverty rate; (b) the 40 year trend in child poverty would be very similar; and (c) the extreme racial inequalities in child poverty would not decline. Reducing the high penalty for single motherhood and the extremely high Black and Latino child poverty rates – that exist regardless of single motherhood – would be more effective than reducing the prevalence of single motherhood.
In-person location: Maison des Sciences Humaines, 1st floor, Room LISER