The Nation : Family Income Declining

Families with children are sharing a smaller portion of the nation’s economic pie despite a recent trend of mothers going back to work, a new study commissioned by Congress shows. The study, conducted for the congressional Joint Economic Committee, said the share of national income going to families with children has dropped 19% since 1973. “If the nation’s children are regarded as its social, political and economic future, this information is very disturbing,” said Rep. David R. Obey (D-Wis.), the chairman of the panel. The study gave no simple explanation for the decline. But it mentioned as contributing to the situation the increasing number of families headed by one parent, usually a woman.