How teen moms affect the economy, decades later

Just a couple extra years and a diploma for a teen mom might well change that woman's life. But it could also mean a substantially bigger paycheck for her child, nearly 30 years down the road. A recent report from the think tank Child Trends (and highlighted by the Brookings Institution) finds that later maternity and a diploma boost a teen mom's child's family income by $6,660 at 29.

Source: Child Trends

By using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, researchers ran simulations that found a little extra time before giving birth and just getting a high school diploma can improve her child's income to the tune of thousands of dollars per year decades later.

One caveat: this is one of those charts whose Y axes start way above zero, so it seems to suggest bigger bumps than are really there. The way it looks, incomes more than double with the addition of a high school diploma and two extra years before motherhood. Still, a $6,660 difference is a more than 13-percent bump over the baseline alternative of no diploma and a two-years-earlier maternity.

All of which is to say finding ways to help the youngest potential mothers delay childbearing and get an education does more than improve their lives; it boosts their children (and the broader economy).

Explanatory journalism is a public good

At Vox, we believe that everyone deserves access to information that helps them understand and shape the world they live in. That's why we keep our work free. Support our mission and help keep Vox free for all by making a financial contribution to Vox today.

One-Time Monthly Annual

$95/year

$120/year

$250/year

$350/year

Other

$

Yes, I'll give $120/year

Yes, I'll give $120/year

We accept credit card, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. You can also contribute via