Sure sounds like they can’t afford a family of 4 on that income. They have control over both variables in that situation.

Of course two people with low incomes shouldn't have two kids. But (as detailed in my other comment) you need a 4 person household with 2 kids to get tax negative at $50,000/year. Even a 3 person household with 1 kid isn't tax negative in most of the US at $50,000/year.

So the other poster's argument that $50,000/year isn't so bad because of transfers, tax credits, subsidies, etc. doesn't hold up to real-world examples.

>They have control over both variables in that situation.

A modest proposal?

And sadly, some states may not in fact give them control over that situation.