| Title: |
Understanding Differences in Black and White Child Poverty Rates. A Report of the Heritage Center for Data Analysis. |
| Language: |
English |
| Authors: |
Rector, Robert; Johnson, Kirk A.; Fagan, Patrick F.; Heritage Foundation, Washington, DC. Center for Data Analysis. |
| Availability: |
Heritage Foundation, 214 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E., Washington, DC 20002-4999. Tel: 202-546-4400; Web site: http://www.heritage.org. |
| Peer Reviewed: |
N |
| Page Count: |
21 |
| Publication Date: |
2001 |
| Report Number: |
HF-CDA01-04 |
| Document Type: |
Numerical/Quantitative Data; Reports - Evaluative |
| Descriptors: |
Blacks; Educational Attainment; Low Income Groups; Mothers; One Parent Family; Place of Residence; Poverty; Racial Differences; Racial Discrimination; Welfare Recipients; Whites |
| Geographic Terms: |
U.S.; District of Columbia |
| Abstract: |
This study uses National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY) data to analyze differences in black and white child poverty. The NLSY documents family income and underlying conditions such as employment, educational attainment, welfare use, and marriage or divorce. This analysis examines: time in poverty, time on welfare, time in a single parent home, mother's math and verbal skill level, number of children born to the child's mother, mother's age at first birth, regional variables, rural residence, and racial group. Results indicate that welfare dependence and single parenthood are the major underlying factors producing child poverty. Increases in time on welfare, time in a single parent family, and number of siblings lead to increases in a child's time in poverty. Increases in a mother's math and verbal skills lead to decreases in a child's time in poverty. Race per se is not a significant factor in directly increasing child poverty. Black children have the same poverty rate as white children who are raised in similar circumstances. However, black children are more likely to be poor than white children primarily because they are more likely to live in single parent homes and be on welfare. Technical specifications are appended. (SM) |
| Journal Code: |
RIEOCT2001 |
| Entry Date: |
2001 |
| Accession Number: |
ED453324 |
| Database: |
ERIC |