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The Expanded Child Tax Credit: Impacts on Food Insufficiency Across Demographic Subgroups in the United States

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  • Bahram Adrangi
  • William Barnes
  • Derek Berning

Abstract

We investigate the association of the Child Tax Credit (CTC) program with food insufficiency and related anxieties among families with incomes below $35000. Analyzing the US Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey data, our xtprobit specification and estimation reveals the disparate impact of the CTC across demographic and racial divides, a departure from previous work. Subgroup analyses reveal that the final two CTC installments disproportionately benefited Hispanic households and those earning under $25000/year while producing no significant decrease in food insufficiency for black households or those earning $25000–$35000/year. The study indicates that the expanded CTC’s reduction of low-income households’ food insufficiency persisted across the program’s duration. Thus, the expansion achieved its intended purpose by helping to buffer low-income families against the fallout of the disrupted pandemic economy—an important result to keep in mind as policy makers continue to consider modifications to the CTC that improve efficacy and equity. JEL Codes: A12, A13, A14

Suggested Citation

  • Bahram Adrangi & William Barnes & Derek Berning, 2024. "The Expanded Child Tax Credit: Impacts on Food Insufficiency Across Demographic Subgroups in the United States," The American Economist, Sage Publications, vol. 69(1), pages 148-167, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:amerec:v:69:y:2024:i:1:p:148-167
    DOI: 10.1177/05694345231217180
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Bahram Adrangi & Krisztian Jeszenszki, 2025. "Publicly Subsidized Childcare and the Labor Force Participation Rates of Men and Women: Evidence From OECD," The American Economist, Sage Publications, vol. 70(1), pages 46-63, March.

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    JEL classification:

    • A12 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Relation of Economics to Other Disciplines
    • A13 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Relation of Economics to Social Values
    • A14 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Sociology of Economics

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