Children who are raised in a two-parent household tend to do better economically. Education matters. Stable families matter. Close contemplation of how best to foster these interests also matters, however.

Melissa Kearney is a professor of economics at the University of Maryland. But Kearney is also a new celebrity economist thanks to her recent book, which offers the not-surprising conclusion that children do better when they grow up in a nurturing household with two parents. Her new book is titled The Two-Parent Privilege. Kearney argues for more income transfers for families, for children, and for young men and women, especially men. She believes that more welfare will reduce income inequality and reduce the number of single-parent households.

Kearney’s prescription is wrong.

The data are clear that more welfare drives out-of-wedlock births. More welfare is negatively correlated with marriage and with committed relationships. The wealthy countries of Europe have generous social welfare programs. Out-of-wedlock births are higher in Europe than in the United States.

Yes, before income transfers, economic inequality is a reality. Intellectual capital is highly valued in the U.S. Hard work is also valued. People who are well educated and work hard generally make more money. Champion athletes train hard and are more skilled. Society rewards skill and effort. That is only fair. But the U.S. is not an unequal society. After income transfers, the distribution of income in the U.S. is similar to that of the other wealthy nations of Europe, except for France, where per capita income is 50% lower than in the U.S. More welfare will only lead to slower economic growth. To finance more welfare in this time of out-of-control deficits, new taxes to finance more handouts would fall on the most productive as well as on savings and investment, not the equation for a strong economy.

However, it is not a college education that is the precondition for economic success or for raising children in a nurturing environment. Many have written about the success sequence: graduate from high school, get a good job — the current employment market is strong — get married, and only then have children. Following the success sequence reduces the probability of poverty to 5% or lower.

Utah illustrates how strong families, a strong economy, and above-average incomes are not dependent on big government or more handouts. Utah ranks 46th out of the 50 states in college graduation rates, 15th in per capita income among the 50 states, and second in average SAT scores. Still, it ranks 49th out of the 50 states in K-12 funding for public education. Membership in the Mormon religion is almost certainly the determinative factor.

Instead of more welfare, the public education system should encourage membership in positive communities, religious or not, which promote the success sequence, personal responsibility, hard work, and deferred gratification.

More welfare is the road to national poverty.

James Rogan is a former U.S. foreign service officer who later worked in finance and law for 30 years. He writes  a daily note  on finance and the economy, politics, sociology, and criminal justice.