Research has shown that growing up in poverty leads to negative health, social, and economic consequences for children that often continue in adulthood. Compared with other children, children living below the poverty line are less healthy, have lower educational achievement, and are more likely to become involved with the criminal justice system. As adults, they are less likely to attend college or hold a steady job.

In 2006, an estimated 13.3 million U.S. children were living in poverty, and at risk for such lifelong problems. But the individual hardships brought by poverty also exact a staggering financial toll on broader society. One recent estimate has suggested that growing up in poverty costs the United States $500 billion annually in lost potential earnings, involvement with the criminal justice system, and the costs associated with poor health outcomes.¹

1. Harry J. Holzer et al., "The Economic Costs of Poverty in the United States: Subsequent Effects of Children Growing Up Poor," National Poverty Center Working Paper Series #07-04 (January 2007), accessed online at http://npc.umich.edu/publications/u/working_paper07-04.pdf, on April 25, 2008.
2. Lori Pfingst, "The Cost of Child Poverty State by State," fact sheet from Washington KIDS COUNT, available from the author at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .