Nancy Folbre, UMass Amherst economics professor, writes in the Economix blog about ways to cut the child poverty rate in the U.S. She says Great Britain has accomplished this goal with some pretty standard economic policy tools. “The ordinary policies in Britain that led to what many Americans would consider extraordinary results were these: an increase in the national minimum wage (currently about $9.70 an hour, compared with our $7.25), tax incentives to encourage single parents to move into paid employment, increased public benefits for parents, provision of universal preschool and regulations making it easier for parents of young children to request flexible work schedules.” (New York Times, 6/13/11)