Centering Children Through Economic Policy: Attitudes Toward Guaranteed Income for Families

• In Event: Centering Liberatory Health Equity Lenses in Interdisciplinary Approaches to the Promotion of Youth Well-Being

Abstract

Objective/Purpose
This study examines public support for guaranteed income (GI) directed toward three populations closely tied to youth well-being: pregnant people, single mothers, and families with children under 18. Family economic security is a foundational determinant of children’s mental and physical health (The Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2011). In 2023, 9.96 million children in the U.S. lived in poverty (Shrider, 2024). Childhood poverty is associated with chronic health issues, housing instability, exposure to violence, lower educational attainment, and continued poverty in adulthood (National Academies of Sciences, 2019). There is a need for more transformative, equity-centered policies that address structural barriers beyond the traditional social safety net. Understanding who the public is willing to support and under what conditions can inform how child-centered social policy is framed and implemented.

Theoretical Framework/Perspectives
Economic security is a prerequisite for the well-being of children and their families. GI, or unconditional, recurring cash transfers, is increasingly being explored as a structural intervention that can alleviate chronic stress, reduce financial precarity, and expand choices for marginalized families. The analysis draws on critical perspectives about the social construction of deservingness and the role of public opinion in policy support.

Methods
Logistic regression models were used to examine the association between demographic and socioeconomic characteristics and support for guaranteed income for pregnant individuals, single mothers, and families with children under 18 years old. Each model included age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, income, political affiliation, and prior experience with public assistance. Survey weights were applied to produce nationally representative estimates.

Data Sources
We surveyed a nationally representative sample (unweighted N = 1,050) through the AmeriSpeak Omnibus panel in February 2024. The survey included questions on attitudes toward GI and levels of support for a GI for pregnant individuals, single mothers, and families with children under the age of 18.

Results
Over 60% of respondents supported a GI for pregnant individuals, single mothers, and families with children. Female respondents were more likely than male respondents to express support across all three groups. Support for families with children was lower among respondents with higher levels of education. Those earning over $60,000 annually were less likely to support GI for all groups. Political affiliation was strongly associated with support: Republicans were significantly less likely to support GI compared to Democrats. Respondents with prior experience using public assistance were more likely to support GI for pregnant people, but not the other groups. We found no significant differences in support by age or race/ethnicity of respondent.

Scholarly Significance
These findings highlight the existence of public support for policies aimed at improving the material well-being of families and children. Children’s health, development, and long-term outcomes are shaped not only by individual or familial factors, but also by the public's will to invest in their caregivers. By examining public attitudes toward GI for pregnant people, single mothers, and families with children, this study contributes to the growing body of research that calls for centering children in economic policy.

Author

• Monica De La Cruz, University of California - Berkeley