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Title: The Poverty-Reducing Effect of Five Key Government Programs in Rural and Urban America

Citation Type: Miscellaneous

Publication Year: 2019

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Abstract: Federal programs are critical for helping those with low incomes make ends meet. But not all such programs are equally effective at reducing poverty, nor do they benefit all of those in poverty uniformly. In this brief, we explore the extent to which rural and urban residents access five social programs—Social Security, disability benefits,1 federal and state cash assistance,2 the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)— and the effect of these programs individually and collectively in bringing family incomes closer to the poverty threshold. Research has long shown the benefit of Social Security to elderly populations3 and the role of SNAP and the EITC in reducing poverty among families with young children.4 This brief expands this line of inquiry by analyzing the effects of these programs for rural and urban residents.

Url: https://scholars.unh.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1364&context=carsey

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Authors: Carson, Jessica A; Mattingly, Marybeth J

Publisher: Carsey Research

Data Collections: IPUMS CPS

Topics: Other, Poverty and Welfare

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