Many progressive arguments that attribute poverty to factors other than out of wedlock childbirths can be refuted with the following two data points: (1) the success of immigrants, who frequently live in the same neighborhoods and go to the same schools, but find success in America, and (2) the fact that out of wedlock childbirths were much lower during the Great Depression (see this link for a graph), when economic times were much worse than they are today. This makes it unlikely that economics is a major factor in causing out of wedlock childbirths.

A final point that should be emphasized is that out of wedlock childbirths cause more than poverty, but they also cause a wide array of other social problems including substance abuse and problems in school.

Now onto the detailed responses to progressive arguments.
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Robert Whaples surveys PhD members of the American Economic Association and finds substantial agreement on a wide range of policy issues. For example:

• 87.5 percent agree that “the U.S. should eliminate remaining tariffs and other barriers to trade.”
• 85.2 percent agree that “the U.S. should eliminate agricultural subsidies.”
• 85.3 percent agree that “the gap between Social Security funds and expenditures will become unsustainably large within the next fifty years if current policies remain unchanged.”
• 77.2 percent agree that “the best way to deal with Social Security’s long-term funding gap is to increase the normal retirement age.”
• 67.1 percent agree that “parents should be given educational vouchers which can be used at government-run or privately-run schools.”
• 65.0 percent agree that “the U.S. should increase energy taxes.”

And, finally, the topic that generates the most consensus:

• 90.1 percent disagree with the position that “the U.S. should restrict employers from outsourcing work to foreign countries.”

One issue that fails to generate consensus is the minimum wage: 37.7 percent want it increased, while 46.8 percent want it eliminated.

Hat tip: Greg Mankiw