The Daily

Why Fewer American Children Are Living in Poverty

Sep 26, 2022

Jason DeParle, a senior writer for The New York Times and expert on poverty, uncovers the remarkable 59% drop in child poverty in America since the 1990s. He discusses how safety net programs and political compromises have redefined the landscape for struggling families. Personal stories, like that of Cece Jackson from West Virginia, illustrate the real-life impact of these programs. The conversation also touches on the historical shifts in social policy and the implications of recent global events, highlighting both progress and ongoing challenges.

27:15

Creator website

Episode guests

Jason DeParle

Highlights

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Shifting Focus From Poor Unemployed to Poor Working People

02:14

The New York Times' Run Up

00:58

Intro

3min

Redefining Child Poverty in America

9min

Declining Child Poverty Across America

2min

Transforming Lives: The Impact of Anti-Poverty Programs

10min

Child Poverty and Political Shifts

7min

The high poverty rate among children was long seen as an enduring fact of American life. But a recent analysis has shown that the number of young people growing up poor has fallen dramatically in the past few decades.

The reasons for the improvement are complicated, but they have their roots in a network of programs and support shaped by years of political conflict and compromise.

Guest: Jason DeParle, a senior writer at The New York Times and a frequent contributor to The New York Times Magazine.

Background reading:

Child poverty in the United States has fallen 59 percent since 1993, a new analysis showed.
Few states have experienced larger declines in child poverty than West Virginia. One family’s story illustrates the real-life impact that an expanded safety net has provided to millions across America.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

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