of Health and Human Services, and the Russell Sage Foundation. Greg

provided valuable comments on a prior draft. Any opinions expressed are those of the author and not of any sponsoring institution or agency. The Institute's Discussion Paper series is designed to describe, and to elicit comments on, work in progress. Its papers should be considered working drafts. Over the past forty years the rising educational attainment of the population has been a significant factor.in the historical trend toward higher earnings and lower poverty rates. In recent years, however, the levels of individual earnings and family income have stagnated and poverty rates have risen, especially for the young, at all educational levels. This paper examines the relationship between an individual's educational attainment and his or her ability to earn enough to support a family (as measured by the poverty line for a four-person family) over the decades from 1949 to 1986. It concludes that policies to enhanc