Around 13-17% American population lives below the federal poverty line. The US government does not have an absolute definition for poverty, but it describes the same phenomenon as relative poverty, that is, how income relates to median income. The number of people living under poverty line is increasing at an alarming rate.

It is difficult to assess the economic consequences of several of the U.S. childhood problems fairly, but the rough impression is that problems most endangering the future productivity of our children are adolescent pregnancy, educational/employment deficits and substance abuse.