>From ABC news on-line: Mon, 7 Jun 1999 18:01:31 +1000
*Study finds gap between rich and poor families is shrinking*
A new study has highlighted the importance of government assistance in
reducing inequalities in the standards of living of children.
A report by the National Centre for Social Economic Modelling, at the
University of Canberra, has found that, contrary to popular perceptions,
the gap between rich and poor families shrunk between 1982 and 1996.
Children in families dependent on social security were $43 a week better
off in the mid 1990s.
Two-income families also experienced a $43 a week increase in income.
However, two-parent one-income families were $24 dollars a week worse off.
Report author Anne Harding says under that pressure, the proportion of
two-parent one-income families dropped sharply from almost one half in
1982, to less than a third in 1996.
"The single-income family is going to be extinct not long into the future,"
she said.
"In something like 15 years time, we think almost no children will be
living in single-income families if they keep dropping off at this rate."
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