The trend in the income status of children in female-headed families

Abstract

This article presents a comparative study of the income status of children in female-headed families, married-couple families, and male-headed families in 1969, 1979, and 1989. The study found that from 1969 to 1989, children in female-headed families gained ground economically to children in marriedcouple families at the point of pretransfer income distribution, but it lost at the point of posttransfer income distribution. In comparison to children in maleheaded families, these children gained ground economically at both points of income distribution, but to a lesser degree at the point of posttransfer income distribution. The findings point to the conclusion that female heads of families increased economic capabilities during the past two decades—a manifestation of their greater work efforts. Policy implications are discussed.