A hallmark of every developed nation is the provision of a social safety net – public programs that deliver aid to the poor.  Because of their higher rates of poverty, children are often a major beneficiary of safety net programs. Compared to other countries, the U.S. spends less on anti-poverty programs and, consequently, has higher child poverty rates. In this lecture, Professor Hoynes discussed the emerging research that examines how the social safety net affects children’s life trajectories.