How the Child Tax Credit Became America's Biggest Anti-Poverty Program

Lucas and Luna unpack the Child Tax Credit's journey from a modest 1997 provision to the centerpiece of U.S. anti-poverty policy. They walk through the 2021 expansion that cut child poverty nearly in half, the post-expansion cliff when millions of families lost monthly payments, and the current legislative battle over a bipartisan bill that would restore parts of the credit. Along the way, they explain the mechanics—refundability vs. non-refundability, phase-in rates, the difference between expanding coverage and increasing the per-child amount—and why the CTC splits economists who agree on the goal but debate design. Specific numbers include the 2021 temporary expansion to $3,600 per child under six, the 26 percent drop in child poverty from 2020 to 2021, and the current proposed $2,000 per child with a phase-in that starts at $2,500 of earnings. #ChildTaxCredit #TaxPolicy #AntiPoverty #USFiscalPolicy #RefundabilityDebate #TaxExpansion #ChildPoverty #2021Expansion #BipartisanBill #TaxCreditMechanics #FiscalPolicy #Economics #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #TaxPolicyPodcast #LucasAndLuna #PolicyDesign #SafetyNet Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo