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The Child Tax Credit over Time by Family Type: Benefit Eligibility and Poverty

Author

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  • Brehm, Margaret E.

    (Oberlin College)

  • Malkova, Olga

    (University of Kentucky)

Abstract

We examine disparities in Child Tax Credit (CTC) eligibility and anti-poverty effects since 1998 by family type. Initially, single mothers were least likely to be eligible and were underrepresented among those lifted from poverty by the CTC, because the credit was virtually nonrefundable. By 2017, disparities by family type mostly disappear, as eligibility and anti-poverty effectiveness of the CTC among single mothers increases dramatically, because of reforms increasing CTC refundability. When the credit doubles in 2018, disparities revert toward initial levels, as eligibility and the anti-poverty effectiveness of single mothers rises least, because of a phaseout threshold expansion and partial refundability.

Suggested Citation

  • Brehm, Margaret E. & Malkova, Olga, 2023. "The Child Tax Credit over Time by Family Type: Benefit Eligibility and Poverty," IZA Discussion Papers 16129, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp16129
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Child Tax Credit; poverty; gender; tax policy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H24 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Personal Income and Other Nonbusiness Taxes and Subsidies
    • H71 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply

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