Investment in Low-Income Kids Pays Off Later
Government programs that provide cash, insurance subsidies, and housing assistance to low-income families can pay dramatic dividends in the health and income of children as they grow up, according to a new study from the Brookings Institution. Assessing the Long-Run Benefits of Transfers to Low-Income Families finds that cash transfer programs such as the Earned Income Tax Credit appear to have a direct positive impact on low-income children’s health and education outcomes. The study also finds that providing health insurance through Medicaid early in children’s lives has significant long-term benefits, including longer lifespans and lower disability rates.