The Antipoverty Effects of the Expanded Child Tax Credit Across States: Where were the Historic Reductions Felt?

The 2021 expansion of the Child Tax Credit (CTC) led to a historic reduction in poverty in the United States, particularly for children. This essay discusses where in the country the expanded CTC reduced child poverty the most. It also examines how the reduction in child poverty varies across two characteristics: state-level cost of living and state-level poverty. The essay notes that there is evidence that the policy has reduced child poverty at both the family and regional levels.