The Economist: on Families & Children


Marco Rubio: Increased child tax credit plus paid family leave

Mr Rubio suggests his new programme will involve more interventions such as the increased child tax credit he inserted into the tax reform passed last year, and a provision for paid family leave he is working on now. He mulls the need for more public spending on technological research and for education reform, to prioritise vocational skills. He advocates a more flexible benefit system, to help the retraining of disrupted workers.

From the lips of an orthodox Republican leader, these modest measures imply a serious reconsideration of the pre-eminent conservative ideals of a minimal government role in the economy.

"If we basically say everyone is on their own and the market's going to take care of it, we will rip the country apart, because millions of good hardworking people lack the means to adapt." Economic liberty is the freedom to enjoy "the dignity of work", says Mr Rubio. "There needs to be a conservative movement that addresses these realities."

Source: The Economist on 2020 presidential hopefuls Apr 26, 2018

Steve Fulop: Require companies to grant paid sick leave

Unemployment has dropped from 8.8% when Mr Fulop was elected to 5%. While Mr Fulop, a Democrat, has streamlined regulations and expedited business approvals, he is protective of the city's industrial past. "Grittiness makes the city special. We don't want to become a Main Street with chain stores." He has also pushed a progressive agenda. Under his watch, the city became the first in the state (and sixth in the country) to require companies to grant paid sick leave. It is the first New Jersey city to have a transgender health care programme. More affordable housing has been built, even along the desirable waterfront, in the past two and a half years than in the previous ten.
Source: The Economist on 2017 New Jersey Gubernatorial race Jan 27, 2016

Kamala Harris: $6,000 child tax credit, expanded from $2,000 per child

Ms Harris's economic strategy involves targeted tax cuts: For low- and middle-income families, she would increase the child tax credit, including $6,000 during a baby's first year of life, up from $2,000 now. And she would expand the reach of the earned income tax credit--an important subsidy for poorer Americans--to those without children. Judged on their own merits, Ms Harris can make a strong case for both of these changes. When the child tax credit was greatly expanded during the pandemic, it led to a nearly 50% reduction in child poverty rates. As Ms Harris puts it, that is an investment in America's future.

These tax cuts would not come in isolation, however. America's budget deficit is running at about 7% of GDP, a level previously associated with wars or recessions, while the national debt is continuing to climb higher. Neither of the candidates has offered any serious proposals about how to clean up the country's fiscal picture, and would in all likelihood make it worse.

Source: The Economist on 2024 Presidential hopefuls Aug 21, 2024

  • The above quotations are from Columns and news articles in The Economist magazine.
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2024 Presidential contenders on Families & Children:
  Candidates for President & Vice-President:
V.P.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.(I-CA)
Chase Oliver(L-GA)
Dr.Jill Stein(D-MA)
Former Pres.Donald Trump(R-FL)
Sen.J.D.Vance(R-OH)
Gov.Tim Walz(D-MN)
Dr.Cornel West(I-NJ)

2024 presidential primary contenders:
Pres.Joe_Biden(D-DE)
N.D.Gov.Doug Burgum(R)
N.J.Gov.Chris_Christie(R)
Fla.Gov.Ron_DeSantis(R)
S.C.Gov.Nikki_Haley(R)
Ark.Gov.Asa_Hutchinson(R)
Former V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
U.S.Rep.Dean_Phillips(D-MN)
Vivek_Ramaswamy(R-OH)
S.C.Sen.Tim_Scott(R)
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Page last updated: Sep 29, 2024