The Daily More Money Was Supposed to Help Poor Kids. So Why Didn’t It?
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Aug 6, 2025 
In this thought-provoking discussion, Jason DeParle, a Times reporter specializing in poverty, dives into the unexpected results of cash aid programs for low-income families. Despite the assumption that financial support would enhance children’s well-being, studies reveal little to no improvement in developmental outcomes. DeParle explores the complexities behind these findings, including the influence of external factors like the pandemic and ongoing debates about the efficacy of monetary aid. This conversation challenges prevailing beliefs about poverty and prompts a reevaluation of public policy.
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Cash Alone Doesn't Improve Kids
- Giving money to poor families alone does not measurably improve children's cognitive development or behavior.
- This challenges the assumption that cash aid is sufficient to break the cycle of childhood poverty.
Rigorous Money Impact Study
- The Baby's First Years study randomly gave poor mothers $333 a month or $20 to isolate cash aid effects.
- It is a rigorous randomized control trial designed to precisely measure cash effect on child development.
Cash Amount Significant But Limited
- $333 monthly amounts to roughly an 18% income increase for poor families, meaningful but not transformative.
- Researchers hoped this sum would be enough to test cash aid's impact on child development.