Rewarding Work: The Impact of the Earned Income Tax Credit

The federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) will boost earnings for over 18 million low-income working families in the U.S. by more than $30 billion this year. This survey series uses IRS data to analyze the spatial distribution of working poor families in 29 regions across the US. It finds that the EITC is a significant federal antipoverty investment in cities and their regions, and that in most regions a large share of EITC dollars flows to the suburbs. The surveys conclude by describing steps that cities and their regions can take that leverage the federal EITC, making work pay for lower-income families and helping them to save and build assets.

Regional Reports All Files Are In PDF Format
Akron 538 kb Atlanta 505 kb Baltimore 459 kb Boston 563 kb Chicago 256 kb Columbus 502 kb Denver 469 kb Des Moines 436 kb Detroit 440 kb Gary 489 kb Grand Forks 571 kb Hartford 446 kb Indianapolis 451 kb Los Angeles 502 kb Louisville 467 kb	Macon 541 kb Miami 453 kb Milwaukee 513 kb New Orleans 577 kb Oakland 445 kb Philadelphia 567 kb Providence 445 kb San Antonio 595 kb San Diego 544 kb San Jose 471 kb Savannah 479 kb Seattle 533 kb St. Louis 544 kb Washington, D.C. 579 kb

National ReportRead the national analysis of the Earned Income Tax Credit in 100 metropolitan areas. It finds that the EITC provided a $17 billion stimulus to these metro areas in 1998, and that the majority of EITC dollars flowed to the suburbs.

National Report

EITC Estimates
for 27 Regions and Central Cities

External ResourcesCenter on Budget and Policy Priorities EITC Analyses

Joint Center for Poverty Research EITC Information Clearinghouse

Center for Law and Human Services, Chicago