the rise in the proportion of singleparent families is associated with an increase in absolute child poverty measured as the proportion of children living below the mid s poverty line therefore maternal employment has played an important in maintaining family living standards despite the growth of relative poverty observed in many countries in the aftermath of the great recession this makes sense since children in lowincome households or households where one parents is unable to work are eligible for these benefits more surprisingly increases in spending on pensions are also associated with decreases in child poverty