Budget Basics: What Is the Child Tax Credit?
The CTC provides assistance to families with children, and while it represents a relatively modest part of overall government spending, it is one of the largest tax expenditures.
Read MoreBudget Basics: Tax Expenditures
Tax expenditures can come in the form of exclusions, exemptions, deductions, and credits.
Read MoreWhat Are the Economic Costs of Child Poverty?
Child poverty is higher in the United States than in other wealthy countries. Studies show that it has quantifiable economic costs.
Read MoreWhat Types of Securities Does the Treasury Issue?
Learn about the different types of Treasury securities issued to the public as well as trends in interest rates and maturity terms.
Read MoreInfographic: U.S. Healthcare Spending
Improving our healthcare system to deliver better quality care at lower cost is critically important to our nation’s long-term economic and fiscal well-being.
Read MoreHow Much Does the Government Spend on International Affairs?
Federal spending for international affairs, which supports American diplomacy and development aid, is a small portion of the U.S. budget.
Read MoreWhat Is SNAP? An Overview of the Largest Federal Anti-Hunger Program
SNAP has a positive effect on poverty and food insecurity, with a relatively small effect on the federal budget.
Read MoreShould We Eliminate the Social Security Tax Cap?
There have been a number of proposals to increase, eliminate, or otherwise adjust the payroll tax cap as a way to shore up Social Security’s finances.
Read MoreThe Federal Government Has Borrowed Trillions. Who Owns All that Debt?
Most federal debt is owed to domestic holders, but foreign ownership is much higher now than it was about 50 years ago.
Read MoreHow Does the U.S. Healthcare System Compare to Other Countries?
Despite higher healthcare spending, America’s health outcomes are not any better than those in other developed countries.
Read More