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Patterns of Income Instability Among Low‐ and Middle‐Income Households with Children
Author(s) -
Wolf Sharon,
Gennetian Lisa A.,
Morris Pamela A.,
Hill Heather D.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
family relations
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1741-3729
pISSN - 0197-6664
DOI - 10.1111/fare.12067
Subject(s) - poverty , demographic economics , economics , population , vulnerability (computing) , survey of income and program participation , household income , net national income , income distribution , family income , socioeconomics , economic inequality , inequality , economic growth , geography , public economics , gross income , demography , sociology , mathematical analysis , computer security , mathematics , archaeology , tax reform , computer science , state income tax
Concern about the effects of income and child poverty in the United States has spurred decades of research documenting the relationships between income level, family functioning, and children's development. Using data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation, this study expands on this knowledge base by considering patterns of income change among low‐ and middle‐income households with children, a population often targeted by social policies and one of growing vulnerability. A household‐centered growth curve analysis first identified statistically significant variation in intrayear household income level over the period of the study. Cluster analysis was then used to distinguish between groups of households according to their distinct patterns of income instability using measures of frequency, magnitude, direction of income change, and income level. This work begins to establish a descriptive empirical evidence base of the realities of household income dynamics that has implications for future research, policy, and practice .