Child Well-Being: We’re Number 36
In 1988, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) created a research center to support its advocacy of children worldwide. Its Office of Research-Innocenti, based in Florence, Italy, has compiled annual Report Cards on the status of children and their well-being in advanced countries.
For the Sixteenth Report Card (2020), out of thirty-eight countries examined, the United States came in thirty-sixth, ahead of only Bulgaria and Chile. Using data from the OECD, the World Bank, Global Burden of Disease Study, World Health Organization, PISA, and other data measurements, the Report Card focuses on three overall dimensions: mental well-being (both positive and negative aspects of a child’s mental well-being—life satisfaction and suicide rates); physical health (rates of overweight and child mortality); and skills (academic proficiency and social skills, such as making friends easily).
Source: “Worlds of Influence: Understand What Shapes Child Well-Being in Rich Countries,” Innocenti Report Card 16, UNICEF, 2020; written by Anna Gromada, Gwyther Rees, and Yekaterina Chzhen, https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/Report-Card-16-Worlds-of-Influence-child-wellbeing.pdf.
In 1988, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) created a research center to support its advocacy of children worldwide. Its Office of Research-Innocenti, based in Florence, Italy, has compiled annual Report Cards on the status of children and their well-being in advanced countries.
For the Sixteenth Report Card (2020), out of thirty-eight countries examined, the United States came in thirty-sixth, ahead of only Bulgaria and Chile. Using data from the OECD, the World Bank, Global Burden of Disease Study, World Health Organization, PISA, and other data measurements, the Report Card focuses on three overall dimensions: mental well-being (both positive and negative aspects of a child’s mental well-being—life satisfaction and suicide rates); physical health (rates of overweight and child mortality); and skills (academic proficiency and social skills, such as making friends easily).
Source: “Worlds of Influence: Understand What Shapes Child Well-Being in Rich Countries,” Innocenti Report Card 16, UNICEF, 2020; written by Anna Gromada, Gwyther Rees, and Yekaterina Chzhen, https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/Report-Card-16-Worlds-of-Influence-child-wellbeing.pdf.
Lowest Child Poverty (OECD countries): Number 31
During the pandemic years, the percentage of child poverty declined in the United States and was greatly assisted by the Child Tax Credit. From July through December 2021, the Internal Revenue Service paid Child Tax Credits worth $250 per child (age 6 to 17) and up to $300 per child under the age of 6; a total of 61 million children in 36 million households were assisted. Thus, 3 million children were kept out of poverty in July 2021, climbing up to 3.7 million in December. Thanks to the Child Tax Credit, the poverty rate in 2021 fell to its lowest level ever recorded by the US Census Bureau. But there was a looming expiration date on this successful program.
The expanded Child Tax Credit was scheduled to be continued in the Biden administration’s Build Back Better legislation. The bill passed in the House of Representatives in November 2021, but was blocked in the Senate by the refusal of Democrat Joe Manchin III to agree. Thus, the Child Tax Credit was not renewed. The results were immediate. Child poverty has increased dramatically from 12.1 percent in December 2021 to 17.0 percent in January 2022. Researchers from the Columbia University Center for Poverty and Social Policy note that 3.7 million more children were in poverty in early 2022 due to the ending of the monthly tax credits, and Latino and Black children were hit the hardest. Then came the official numbers from the US Census Bureau: child poverty spiked in 2022, averaging 12.4 percent, up from 5.2 percent in the previous year. “By far this is the largest annual increase in US history for both children and the overall population in terms of poverty, going back to 1967,” said Zachary Parolin at the Columbia University Center for Poverty and Social Policy. Altogether, five million children were affected by the end of the tax credits.
The OECD calculates that the percentage of children living in poverty for Finland is 2.4 percent. Ranking second is Denmark (4.8 percent), third is Iceland (5.4 percent), fourth is Slovenia (5.6 percent), and fifth is the Czech Republic (7.1 percent). The United States ranks 31st with18.8 percent of children living in poverty.
Sources: Zachary Parolin, Sophie Collyer, and Megan A. Curran, “Absence of Monthly Child Tax Credit Leads to 3.7 Million More Children in Poverty in January 2022.” Poverty and Social Policy Brief Vol 6., no. 2. Center on Poverty and Social Policy, Columbia University (February 17, 2022), www.povertycenter.columbia.edu/publication/monthly-poverty-january-2022; Kyle Swenson and Amy Goldstein, “US Poverty Spiked in 2022, Reversing Gains, Census Bureau Data Shows,” Washington Post, September 12, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/09/12/us-poverty-rate-census-uninsured-2022/; “Proportion of Children Living in Poverty in the OECD Countries, 2020, Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/264424/child-poverty-in-oecd-countries/; OECD database.
During the pandemic years, the percentage of child poverty declined in the United States and was greatly assisted by the Child Tax Credit. From July through December 2021, the Internal Revenue Service paid Child Tax Credits worth $250 per child (age 6 to 17) and up to $300 per child under the age of 6; a total of 61 million children in 36 million households were assisted. Thus, 3 million children were kept out of poverty in July 2021, climbing up to 3.7 million in December. Thanks to the Child Tax Credit, the poverty rate in 2021 fell to its lowest level ever recorded by the US Census Bureau. But there was a looming expiration date on this successful program.
The expanded Child Tax Credit was scheduled to be continued in the Biden administration’s Build Back Better legislation. The bill passed in the House of Representatives in November 2021, but was blocked in the Senate by the refusal of Democrat Joe Manchin III to agree. Thus, the Child Tax Credit was not renewed. The results were immediate. Child poverty has increased dramatically from 12.1 percent in December 2021 to 17.0 percent in January 2022. Researchers from the Columbia University Center for Poverty and Social Policy note that 3.7 million more children were in poverty in early 2022 due to the ending of the monthly tax credits, and Latino and Black children were hit the hardest. Then came the official numbers from the US Census Bureau: child poverty spiked in 2022, averaging 12.4 percent, up from 5.2 percent in the previous year. “By far this is the largest annual increase in US history for both children and the overall population in terms of poverty, going back to 1967,” said Zachary Parolin at the Columbia University Center for Poverty and Social Policy. Altogether, five million children were affected by the end of the tax credits.
The OECD calculates that the percentage of children living in poverty for Finland is 2.4 percent. Ranking second is Denmark (4.8 percent), third is Iceland (5.4 percent), fourth is Slovenia (5.6 percent), and fifth is the Czech Republic (7.1 percent). The United States ranks 31st with18.8 percent of children living in poverty.
Sources: Zachary Parolin, Sophie Collyer, and Megan A. Curran, “Absence of Monthly Child Tax Credit Leads to 3.7 Million More Children in Poverty in January 2022.” Poverty and Social Policy Brief Vol 6., no. 2. Center on Poverty and Social Policy, Columbia University (February 17, 2022), www.povertycenter.columbia.edu/publication/monthly-poverty-january-2022; Kyle Swenson and Amy Goldstein, “US Poverty Spiked in 2022, Reversing Gains, Census Bureau Data Shows,” Washington Post, September 12, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/09/12/us-poverty-rate-census-uninsured-2022/; “Proportion of Children Living in Poverty in the OECD Countries, 2020, Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/264424/child-poverty-in-oecd-countries/; OECD database.
Gender Equity in Wages (OECD and selected other countries): Number 38
The Institute for Women’s Policy Research through its Status of Women in the States analysis shows that the persistent pay inequality is “far-reaching: if women in the United States received equal pay with comparable men, poverty for working women would be reduced by half and the U.S. economy would have added $482 billion (equivalent to 2.8 percent of 2014 GDP) to its economy.” Further, if working women were paid at the same comparable rate as men, the poverty rate among all working women would fall from 8.2 percent to 4.0 percent.
In looking at the wage gender gap in 2022, the OECD found that the United States ranked 38th among OECD and selected other countries. The country with the least wage gap is Belgium; for men earning $100.00, women earn $98.83. The average for twenty-seven countries in the European Union is this: men earn $100.00, women earn $89.37. The United States figures are far lower: men earn $100.00 and women earn $83.14.
Sources: “The Economic Impact of Equal Pay by State,” Status of Women in the States, http://statusofwomendata.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/SWS-Equal-Pay-and-Poverty_final.pdf; “Gender Wage Gap,” OECD, https://data.oecd.org/earnwage/gender-wage-gap.htm. The OECD defines the gender gap as “The difference between median earnings of men and women relative to median earnings of men.”
The Institute for Women’s Policy Research through its Status of Women in the States analysis shows that the persistent pay inequality is “far-reaching: if women in the United States received equal pay with comparable men, poverty for working women would be reduced by half and the U.S. economy would have added $482 billion (equivalent to 2.8 percent of 2014 GDP) to its economy.” Further, if working women were paid at the same comparable rate as men, the poverty rate among all working women would fall from 8.2 percent to 4.0 percent.
In looking at the wage gender gap in 2022, the OECD found that the United States ranked 38th among OECD and selected other countries. The country with the least wage gap is Belgium; for men earning $100.00, women earn $98.83. The average for twenty-seven countries in the European Union is this: men earn $100.00, women earn $89.37. The United States figures are far lower: men earn $100.00 and women earn $83.14.
Sources: “The Economic Impact of Equal Pay by State,” Status of Women in the States, http://statusofwomendata.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/SWS-Equal-Pay-and-Poverty_final.pdf; “Gender Wage Gap,” OECD, https://data.oecd.org/earnwage/gender-wage-gap.htm. The OECD defines the gender gap as “The difference between median earnings of men and women relative to median earnings of men.”
Income Equality: We’re Number 32
The US Census Bureau began tracking income inequality in 1967; in 2018, the level of inequality reached its highest peak. Recovery from the crippling 2008 economic downturn was slow but steady, but the economic separation between the rich and the poor became even more pronounced. The impact of the pandemic years only added to that separation.
All countries have income inequalities, but in looking at the OECD countries, we find that the United States ranks 32nd, just ahead of Bulgaria, Turkey, Mexico, and Costa Rica. Those countries with the least income inequality are the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Belgium, Norway, and Denmark.
Source: “Income Inequality,” OECD Data, https://data.oecd.org/inequality/income-inequality.htm.
The US Census Bureau began tracking income inequality in 1967; in 2018, the level of inequality reached its highest peak. Recovery from the crippling 2008 economic downturn was slow but steady, but the economic separation between the rich and the poor became even more pronounced. The impact of the pandemic years only added to that separation.
All countries have income inequalities, but in looking at the OECD countries, we find that the United States ranks 32nd, just ahead of Bulgaria, Turkey, Mexico, and Costa Rica. Those countries with the least income inequality are the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Belgium, Norway, and Denmark.
Source: “Income Inequality,” OECD Data, https://data.oecd.org/inequality/income-inequality.htm.
Voter Turnout: We’re Number 31
Voter turnout in US presidential elections has generally hovered a little above 50 percent of eligible adults. The relatively high turnout in the 2020 presidential election was an outlier. In response to COVID, many states adopted mail-in balloting for the first time. Further, the partisan and ideological turmoil of the Trump versus Biden election along with the concerted efforts of the political parties to get out the vote meant a record high percentage of eligible adults cast their votes. In 2020, 81 million citizens voted for Biden; 74 million voted for Trump; 3 million voted for third party candidates. Yet 80 million people did not vote at all. In the 2020 presidential election, despite record numbers of voters, there was a significant racial disparity in voter turnout. The Brennan Center reported that 70.9 percent of white voters cast their ballots, while only 58.4 of non-white voters did so (62.6 percent for Black voters; 53.7 for Latino voters; and 59.7 percent for Asian voters).
In 2024, voter turnout decreased, especially for Democrats. The biggest decrease came in urban areas, with approximately 1.9 million fewer votes for Harris than voted for Biden four years earlier. By contrast, approximately 1.7 million more votes were added to Trump’s campaign than voted for him in 2020. Analysis by the New York Times noted that “the drop-off spanned demographics and economics. It was clear in counties with the highest job growth rates, counties with the most job losses and counties with the highest percentage of college-educated voters. Turnout was down, too, across groups that are traditionally strong for Democrats—including areas with large numbers of Black Christians and Jewish voters.”
During off-year elections for members of Congress, the percentage of those voting usually drops substantially. Again, the 2018 and 2022 mid-term elections were exceptions, drawing higher than usual percentage of voters. At the local level, voter turnout in the United States drops significantly, often below 20 percent of eligible voters.
In recent national elections, the United States ranked 31st in voter participation.
How Did They Do It? The Affirmative Right to Vote. Several countries, including Canada and Germany have a guaranteed affirmative right to vote or require voting.
Source: Drew DeSilver, “Turnout in US Has Soared in Recent Elections but by
Source: Some Measures Still Trails That of Many Other Countries,” Pew Research Center, November 1, 2022, https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/11/01/turnout-in-u-s-has-soared-in-recent-elections-but-by-some-measures-still-trails-that-of-many-other-countries/
Voter turnout in US presidential elections has generally hovered a little above 50 percent of eligible adults. The relatively high turnout in the 2020 presidential election was an outlier. In response to COVID, many states adopted mail-in balloting for the first time. Further, the partisan and ideological turmoil of the Trump versus Biden election along with the concerted efforts of the political parties to get out the vote meant a record high percentage of eligible adults cast their votes. In 2020, 81 million citizens voted for Biden; 74 million voted for Trump; 3 million voted for third party candidates. Yet 80 million people did not vote at all. In the 2020 presidential election, despite record numbers of voters, there was a significant racial disparity in voter turnout. The Brennan Center reported that 70.9 percent of white voters cast their ballots, while only 58.4 of non-white voters did so (62.6 percent for Black voters; 53.7 for Latino voters; and 59.7 percent for Asian voters).
In 2024, voter turnout decreased, especially for Democrats. The biggest decrease came in urban areas, with approximately 1.9 million fewer votes for Harris than voted for Biden four years earlier. By contrast, approximately 1.7 million more votes were added to Trump’s campaign than voted for him in 2020. Analysis by the New York Times noted that “the drop-off spanned demographics and economics. It was clear in counties with the highest job growth rates, counties with the most job losses and counties with the highest percentage of college-educated voters. Turnout was down, too, across groups that are traditionally strong for Democrats—including areas with large numbers of Black Christians and Jewish voters.”
During off-year elections for members of Congress, the percentage of those voting usually drops substantially. Again, the 2018 and 2022 mid-term elections were exceptions, drawing higher than usual percentage of voters. At the local level, voter turnout in the United States drops significantly, often below 20 percent of eligible voters.
In recent national elections, the United States ranked 31st in voter participation.
How Did They Do It? The Affirmative Right to Vote. Several countries, including Canada and Germany have a guaranteed affirmative right to vote or require voting.
Source: Drew DeSilver, “Turnout in US Has Soared in Recent Elections but by
Source: Some Measures Still Trails That of Many Other Countries,” Pew Research Center, November 1, 2022, https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/11/01/turnout-in-u-s-has-soared-in-recent-elections-but-by-some-measures-still-trails-that-of-many-other-countries/