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Objective. Variations in childhood poverty are primarily responsive to changes in family structure and economic conditions. Some research also suggests that federal and state programs may help alleviate poverty among children. This research incorporates measures of family characteristics, economic conditions, and policy variables in estimating changes in childhood poverty among the U.S. states. Methods. The research design is a pooled time series for all 50 states for the years 1987–1996. Results. Economic and family circumstances indeed are the major forces affecting children in poverty among the states. The unemployment rate for females, the percentage births to unmarried mothers, and the percentage of single‐parent families are especially useful estimators. Public policies are important as well: the state or federal minimum wage, Aid to Families with Dependent Children/food stamp payments, the Earned Income Tax Credit, and two measures of state child support effort. Conclusions. Although at times controversial, actions by the states and federal government can help reduce childhood poverty among U.S. states.

Objective. This research incorporates measures of family characteristics, economic conditions, & policy variables in estimating changes in childhood poverty among the US states. Methods. The research design is a pooled time series for all 50 states for the years 1987-1996. Results. Economic & family circumstances are the major forces affecting children in poverty. The unemployment rate for females, the percentage births to unmarried mothers, & the percentage of single-parent families are especially useful estimators. Public policies are important as well: the state or federal minimum wage, Aid to Families with Dependent Children/food stamp payments, the Earned Income Tax Credit, & two measures of state child support effort. Conclusions. Although at times controversial, actions by the states & federal government can help reduce childhood poverty. 2 Tables, 46 References. Adapted from the source document.

To test the proposition that metropolitan governmental structure has social, economic, and racial consequences, the authors assume that the proliferation of local governments in a metropolitan area and the boundary constraints imposed on the central city have adverse effects, especially on the core city. Analyzing 97 large U.S. metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), they found only limited support for this proposition. Of three measures of fragmentation, only two were of any consequence, one in the opposite direction predicted. The lower the central city's share of MSA population, the higher the level of fiscal health for the inner city. Also, municipal boundaries have racial consequences.