Event Summary

On September 9, the Center on Opportunity and Social Mobility’s Kevin Corinth, Matt Weidinger, and Scott Winship discussed the Census Bureau’s income and poverty estimates for 2024, released early Tuesday morning. Panelists noted the significance of this year’s data, with 2024 marking the end of the Biden administration and the expiration of many pandemic-era policies. Notable data highlights include an increase in median household income, particularly for married households, and a decline in the official poverty rate, particularly among households with children and individuals without a high school degree, underscoring the panelists’ belief that Americans can be generally optimistic about the state of poverty in the US.

The panelists also discussed the shortcomings of different poverty measures, emphasizing the need for a unified measure that includes government transfers. They compared welfare reform policies in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act with similar Clinton-era policies, such as introducing work requirements for Medicaid and strengthening them for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, considering what their net impact will be on income levels for the bottom fifth of earners. The event concluded with a Q&A.

—Abby Wallen

Event Description

Join AEI’s Center on Opportunity and Social Mobility for a discussion of the Census Bureau’s income and poverty estimates corresponding to 2024, which will be released the morning of September 9. AEI’s poverty experts will break down the numbers and discuss what they mean for the United States’ economic well-being during a period of major policy interventions and their expiration during the Biden administration. Then, panelists will discuss how economic well-being—especially poverty—is likely to change over the next several years in light of major changes to the safety net and broader economic policies.

Event Materials

United States Census Bureau: “Poverty in the United States: 2024”