Children’s Economic Well-Being during the Great Recession: Variation by Family Structure, Socioeconomic Status, and Race and Ethnicity

Sheela Kennedy, University of Minnesota
Catherine A. Fitch, University of Minnesota

We use data from the Current Population Survey on family poverty, parental employment, and food security to study children's well-being during the Great Recession. We begin by updating estimates of child well-being before the recession, focusing on cohabiting families who are poorly measured in official statistics. We then examine changes in child well-being during the first two years of the current recession. The impact of the economic downturn occurred rapidly and was widespread, with large declines in parental employment and household food security during the first year of the recession. Poverty rates increased more gradually. We conclude by assessing whether the impact of the recession of child well-being is concentrated disproportionately among children in certain family structures, socioeconomic statuses, or racial and ethnic groups.