March 2016
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How much does it cost families to raise a child in Texas? Though most parents would probably answer “a lot,” economists have developed and evaluated several models to estimate the cost of raising a child. States are required to incorporate the economic costs of raising children in periodic reviews of their child support guidelines. Most states use either the Engel or Rothbarth methods, but Texas relies on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) annual estimate of families’ expenditures. The USDA estimate, however, is an insufficient estimate of the cost of raising a child for a state as large and diverse as Texas, nor does it account for the costs associated with raising a child across two households. CFRP has developed the first Texas-specific model, the Texas Cost of Raising a Child (Texas CORC), as a more comprehensive and accurate approach for the state. Below are 5 things to know about the cost of raising a child in Texas:
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Citations
1 âChild and Family Research Partnership. LBJ School of Public Affairs. The University of Texas at Austin. (February 2016). An Estimation Model of the Cost of Raising Children in Texas: Final Report. These estimates include the cost of child care. 2 Lino, Mark. (2014). Expenditures on Children by Families, 2013. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion. Miscellaneous Publication No. 1528-2013. Retrieved from http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/sites/default/files/expenditures_on_children_by_families/crc2013.pdf 3 Child and Family Research Partnership. LBJ School of Public Affairs. The University of Texas at Austin. (February 2016). An Estimation Model of the Cost of Raising Children in Texas: Final Report. 4 Population Reference Bureau, analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 2008-2013 American Community Survey. Retrieved from KIDS COUNT Children Living in Low-income Households Where No Adults Work. 5 Child and Family Research Partnership. LBJ School of Public Affairs. The University of Texas at Austin. (February 2016). An Estimation Model of the Cost of Raising Children in Texas: Final Report.Â