Policy Lessons from Children’s Allowances for Children’s Savings Accounts

Many proponents of children’s savings accounts have recognized the central importance of the policy structure on which an account system would be founded. To develop insights for such a foundation, the authors of this article examined the history and structure of children’s allowances around the world and in in the United States. A common feature of twentieth century welfare states, children’s allowance policies provide cash grants to families with children. The lessons derived from this investigation suggest key priorities for policy.

The authors released an early version of this work as a policy report:
Curley, J., & Sherraden, M. (1998). The history and status of children’s allowances: Policy background for children’s savings accounts (CSD Policy Report). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/K7NP23ZK

Project: SEED National Initiative