John Lettieri, President and CEO of Economic Innovation Group | Official Website
John Lettieri, President and CEO of Economic Innovation Group | Official Website
Among Missouri’s counties, Mercer County saw the largest increase in transfer dependency over the past 10 years, surging 10% from 26.4% in 2012 to 36.4% in 2022, and up 21.8% from just 14.6% in 1970. In dollar terms, government transfers per capita in Mercer County jumped from $9,838 in 2012 to $13,617 in 2022, a stark contrast to the $2,455 recorded in 1970.
Sullivan County followed with the second-largest increase in transfer dependency, increasing 8.6% from 25.4% in 2012 to 34% in 2022, and an overall increase of 17.8% from 1970’s 16.2% transfer dependency. This trend is reflected in per capita amounts, with residents of Sullivan County receiving an average of $14,584 in transfer income in 2022, up from $10,850 in 2012 and more than double the $2,455 recorded in 1970.
Additionally, Iron County had the highest percentage of income derived from government transfers, at 46.7% in 2022, making it the county with the highest overall transfer dependency. Hickory County and Oregon County followed closely behind, with transfer dependency rates of 44.6% and 44% in 2022, respectively.
Compared to 1970, Iron County increased by 31.9%, while Hickory County and Oregon County have increased by 23.6% and 21%, respectively, showing sustained reliance on government transfers. Residents in Iron County received an average of $19,467 in transfers per capita, with Hickory County and Oregon County close behind at $17,437 and $18,751, respectively.
For comparison, the statewide average was 19.8% in 2022, showing a higher dependency than the national average of 17.6%. On a per capita level, this translates to $11,453 per resident in 2022, compared to $11,542 nationwide.
Government transfer payments are non-repayable funds provided by federal, state, or local governments to support individuals in need. These payments aim to stabilize economic conditions and provide financial support during hardships. Key programs include Social Security transfers (retirement benefits), Medicare transfers (healthcare for seniors), Medicaid transfers (healthcare for low-income individuals), and income maintenance transfers (financial assistance for basic needs).
In Missouri, reliance on government transfers was just 8.6% (or $1,992 per capita in inflation-adjusted 2022 dollars) in 1970. This has since increased to 19.8% (or $11,453 per capita) in 2022, reflecting a total increase of 11.2% since 1970. This shift is largely influenced by increased healthcare costs, and economic transformations that have reshaped income sources across the U.S.
In 2022, the primary government transfer programs in Missouri included:
- Social Security: $3,979 (34.7% of total transfers)
- Medicare: $2,975 (26% of total transfers)
- Medicaid: $2,292 (20% of total transfers)
- Income Maintenance Programs: $987 (8.6% of total transfers)
With 17.9% of the population aged 65 and older, Missouri has a significant demand for programs like Social Security and Medicare. However, counties with higher poverty rates also show elevated Medicaid and income maintenance participation.
Government transfers have long been a modest financial safety net, historically comprising only a small fraction of Americans' income. However, since the 1970s—sometimes dubbed the “Great Transfer-mation”—dependency has surged from 8.2% (or $2,022 per capita in inflation-adjusted 2022 dollars) in 1970 to 17.6% (or $11,542 per capita) in 2022 nationwide. In Missouri, reliance on government transfers has similarly increased from 8.6% (or $1,992 per capita) in 1970 to 19.8% (or $11,453 per capita) in 2022, reflecting broader national trends.
According to the Economic Innovation Group’s analysis, these trends are not merely short-term responses to economic pressures but rather reflect a profound, long-term transformation in how government support is integrated into American life. The study illustrates that structural shifts—from rising healthcare expenses and demographic changes to stagnant wages—have significantly increased dependency on government transfers.
| County | Dependency on Transfers (%) | Change Since 2012 | Change Since 1970 | Per Capita Amount (2022) | Per Capita Change Since 2012 | Per Capita Change Since 1970 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adair County | 28.3% | 2.1% | 17.5% | $10,420 | $1,227 | $8,694 |
| Andrew County | 17.5% | -0.1% | 8.3% | $8,954 | $844 | $7,008 |
| Atchison County | 23.8% | 4% | 15.2% | $13,120 | $2,820 | $11,223 |
| Audrain County | 25.5% | 2.3% | 16.3% | $11,256 | $1,870 | $9,258 |
| Barry County | 26.9% | -2.5% | 11.4% | $11,785 | $1,380 | $9,029 |
| Barton County | 28% | 0.3% | 13% | $12,278 | $1,043 | $9,779 |
| Bates County | 27% | -0.1% | 13.2% | $12,798 | $1,671 | $10,146 |
| Benton County | 36.8% | -1.4% | 16.7% | $16,109 | $1,871 | $13,149 |
| Bollinger County | 34.2% | 3.1% | 15.4% | $15,642 | $4,316 | $13,265 |
| Boone County | 15.5% | 1% | 10% | $8,601 | $1,415 | $7,472 |
| Buchanan County | 28.7% | 4.7% | 17.7% | $13,587 | $3,316 | $11,240 |
| Butler County | 36.6% | 2.4% | 17.9% | $15,908 | $2,183 | $13,003 |
| Caldwell County | 26.8% | 1.6% | 11.3% | $12,181 | $2,858 | $9,351 |
| Callaway County | 23.9% | 2.7% | 14.8% | $10,932 | $2,418 | $9,066 |
| Camden County | 29.9% | 1.5% | 15.9% | $14,956 | $3,738 | $12,553 |
| Cape Girardeau County | 21.4% | 2.8% | 12.5% | $10,644 | $1,838 | $8,843 |
| Carroll County | 24.1% | 0.6% | 13.2% | $14,169 | $3,187 | $11,613 |
| Carter County | 40.5% | 3.3% | 14.5% | $18,774 | $5,523 | $15,101 |
| Cass County | 18.6% | 1.2% | 12.2% | $10,359 | $2,206 | $8,997 |
| Cedar County | 40% | 1.9% | 21.2% | $14,592 | $1,907 | $11,880 |
| Chariton County | 27.5% | 4% | 15.6% | $14,043 | $3,128 | $11,387 |
| Christian County | 19.1% | 0.2% | 8.3% | $9,462 | $1,757 | $7,494 |
| Clark County | 26.3% | 1.2% | 13.8% | $11,648 | $1,754 | $9,613 |
| Clay County | 16.2% | 1.6% | 12% | $9,034 | $1,819 | $8,011 |
| Clinton County | 23.2% | 4.1% | 12.5% | $11,132 | $3,113 | $8,808 |
| Cole County | 19.6% | 3.2% | 12.2% | $11,005 | $2,754 | $9,319 |
| Cooper County | 24.7% | 1.3% | 15% | $12,385 | $3,214 | $10,333 |
| Crawford County | 33.3% | 2.1% | 18.8% | $14,595 | $3,552 | $12,086 |
| Dade County | 30.3% | 1.8% | 14.3% | $12,828 | $2,382 | $10,230 |
| Dallas County | 32.7% | 0.3% | 12.2% | $12,883 | $2,019 | $10,110 |
| Daviess County | 30.1% | 5.3% | 16.3% | $11,115 | $1,922 | $8,737 |
| DeKalb County | 26.1% | 0.7% | 13.8% | $9,692 | $2,381 | $7,257 |
| Dent County | 37.9% | 3.7% | 21.6% | $15,593 | $3,588 | $12,943 |
| Douglas County | 36.5% | -0.1% | 17.4% | $13,405 | $2,737 | $11,227 |
| Dunklin County | 40.8% | 1.3% | 21.7% | $17,907 | $3,250 | $15,079 |
| Franklin County | 21.9% | 1.9% | 12.5% | $11,835 | $2,949 | $9,895 |
| Gasconade County | 29.9% | 1.4% | 15.9% | $14,045 | $2,631 | $11,510 |
| Gentry County | 33.2% | 5.3% | 17.9% | $16,281 | $3,573 | $13,381 |
| Greene County | 20.7% | 0.2% | 11.5% | $10,761 | $1,611 | $8,862 |
| Grundy County | 37% | 6.8% | 22.9% | $15,038 | $3,704 | $12,447 |
| Harrison County | 32.5% | 2.4% | 18.8% | $14,138 | $2,320 | $11,754 |
| Henry County | 31.9% | 2.1% | 17.8% | $15,617 | $3,153 | $12,903 |
| Hickory County | 44.6% | -2.2% | 23.6% | $17,437 | $3,300 | $14,675 |
| Holt County | 22.7% | 1.7% | 10% | $13,707 | $3,409 | $10,992 |
| Howard County | 26.9% | 1.9% | 14.4% | $12,852 | $2,913 | $10,454 |
| Howell County | 35.2% | 2.3% | 17.9% | $14,286 | $2,779 | $11,662 |
| Iron County | 46.7% | 4.9% | 31.9% | $19,467 | $4,822 | $16,934 |
| Jackson County | 20.7% | 1.4% | 13.5% | $10,997 | $1,800 | $9,108 |
| Jasper County | 26.1% | 4.3% | 13.5% | $11,474 | $2,227 | $9,096 |
| Jefferson County | 20.3% | 1.2% | 14.2% | $10,401 | $2,110 | $9,155 |
| Johnson County | 22% | 1.4% | 15.4% | $9,508 | $1,777 | $8,176 |
| Knox County | 31.3% | 6% | 17.7% | $13,526 | $3,353 | $11,097 |
| Laclede County | 29.3% | 0.2% | 17% | $12,799 | $2,291 | $10,597 |
| Lafayette County | 28.1% | 1.9% | 18.7% | $14,094 | $3,084 | $11,871 |
| Lawrence County | 28.2% | -0.3% | 14.5% | $11,377 | $1,428 | $9,122 |
| Lewis County | 27.9% | 3.1% | 15.4% | $11,550 | $2,274 | $9,497 |
| Lincoln County | 19.7% | -1.4% | 9.7% | $9,827 | $1,355 | $7,729 |
| Linn County | 33.1% | 5.2% | 16.2% | $14,963 | $3,352 | $11,652 |
| Livingston County | 27.5% | 0.9% | 16.5% | $13,130 | $2,405 | $10,820 |
| McDonald County | 26% | -2.1% | 8.3% | $9,716 | $1,600 | $7,242 |
| Macon County | 27.1% | -0.4% | 13.6% | $13,666 | $2,526 | $11,033 |
| Madison County | 39.8% | 5.4% | 18.8% | $16,292 | $3,373 | $12,956 |
| Maries County | 31.4% | 2.7% | 19.2% | $12,849 | $2,878 | $11,003 |
| Marion County | 30.6% | 3.5% | 17.4% | $14,952 | $3,178 | $12,380 |
| Mercer County | 36.4% | 10% | 21.8% | $13,617 | $3,779 | $11,162 |
| Miller County | 26.7% | -0.2% | 14.1% | $11,599 | $1,727 | $9,291 |
| Mississippi County | 37.3% | 4% | 16.9% | $15,860 | $4,307 | $13,127 |
| Moniteau County | 21.1% | 1% | 8.6% | $10,047 | $2,388 | $7,623 |
| Monroe County | 29.2% | 3.3% | 16.6% | $13,837 | $3,250 | $11,377 |
| Montgomery County | 26.5% | -1.4% | 12% | $13,158 | $2,236 | $10,413 |
| Morgan County | 29.5% | 1.7% | 13.8% | $14,056 | $1,686 | $11,394 |
| New Madrid County | 30% | -3.9% | 11.3% | $15,278 | $3,116 | $12,930 |
| Newton County | 21.7% | -0.1% | 11.2% | $10,152 | $1,074 | $8,337 |
| Nodaway County | 25.2% | 3.8% | 14.4% | $10,410 | $3,187 | $8,640 |
| Oregon County | 44% | 2.7% | 21% | $18,751 | $5,402 | $15,787 |
| Osage County | 18.2% | 0.2% | 9.3% | $9,630 | $1,981 | $7,887 |
| Ozark County | 42.1% | -2.8% | 19.8% | $16,621 | $3,383 | $13,864 |
| Pemiscot County | 37.7% | 0.8% | 16.3% | $17,608 | $3,718 | $14,518 |
| Perry County | 24.8% | 2.6% | 13.3% | $12,145 | $2,837 | $10,044 |
| Pettis County | 28.1% | 2% | 16.6% | $12,437 | $2,109 | $10,130 |
| Phelps County | 28.1% | 3% | 17.3% | $12,370 | $2,584 | $10,529 |
| Pike County | 29.7% | 3.2% | 20% | $12,299 | $2,919 | $10,069 |
| Platte County | 12.3% | 1.3% | 8.2% | $8,403 | $1,821 | $7,333 |
| Polk County | 29.1% | -1.8% | 14.4% | $12,270 | $1,565 | $9,784 |
| Pulaski County | 23.1% | 8.5% | 20.9% | $10,075 | $2,928 | $9,431 |
| Putnam County | 35% | 3.1% | 18% | $14,270 | $2,638 | $11,738 |
| Ralls County | 23.5% | 1.9% | 13.9% | $11,127 | $1,953 | $9,293 |
| Randolph County | 27.9% | -0.7% | 13.8% | $13,459 | $1,838 | $10,697 |
| Ray County | 24.8% | 1.7% | 15.7% | $11,801 | $2,211 | $9,871 |
| Reynolds County | 42.8% | 3.5% | 26% | $17,320 | $3,004 | $15,024 |
| Ripley County | 43.6% | 1.6% | 17.9% | $19,834 | $4,798 | $16,683 |
| St. Charles County | 14% | 1.6% | 9.4% | $9,017 | $2,176 | $7,908 |
| St. Clair County | 41.6% | 3.4% | 21.4% | $15,295 | $2,639 | $12,346 |
| Ste. Genevieve County | 24.5% | 2.5% | 15.5% | $11,559 | $2,054 | $9,842 |
| St. Francois County | 33.1% | 0.8% | 18.1% | $13,915 | $2,436 | $11,273 |
| St. Louis County | 12.3% | 0.2% | 7.9% | $11,469 | $2,520 | $10,105 |
| Saline County | 28.8% | 0.9% | 16.4% | $13,287 | $1,282 | $10,692 |
| Schuyler County | 29.2% | -2.4% | 10.7% | $11,713 | $1,210 | $8,656 |
| Scotland County | 23.3% | 0.4% | 9.3% | $11,004 | $1,523 | $8,463 |
| Scott County | 30.6% | 3% | 18.1% | $15,409 | $3,136 | $13,261 |
| Shannon County | 38.1% | 0.6% | 19.9% | $15,286 | $3,367 | $12,855 |
| Shelby County | 28.6% | 4.6% | 14.6% | $14,049 | $3,768 | $11,156 |
| Stoddard County | 31.3% | 2.1% | 12.9% | $14,942 | $2,898 | $12,275 |
| Stone County | 30% | -2.4% | 16% | $14,071 | $2,373 | $11,428 |
| Sullivan County | 34% | 8.6% | 17.8% | $14,584 | $3,734 | $11,445 |
| Taney County | 28.4% | 1.8% | 11.6% | $12,742 | $2,497 | $9,506 |
| Texas County | 35.5% | 2.6% | 20% | $12,789 | $2,727 | $10,502 |
| Vernon County | 33.7% | 6.2% | 16.2% | $14,436 | $3,400 | $11,525 |
| Warren County | 21.1% | -0.6% | 11.9% | $10,835 | $1,736 | $8,860 |
| Washington County | 37.3% | 0.1% | 21.3% | $14,034 | $2,169 | $11,574 |
| Wayne County | 43.3% | -0.6% | 15.7% | $18,323 | $4,108 | $14,973 |
| Webster County | 26% | 1.7% | 11.7% | $10,868 | $2,242 | $8,451 |
| Worth County | 33.6% | 7.8% | 18.1% | $14,021 | $3,576 | $11,569 |
| Wright County | 35.7% | 0.5% | 16.2% | $13,583 | $1,713 | $10,603 |
| St. Louis (Independent City) | 23.1% | -0.5% | 10.8% | $12,884 | $1,994 | $10,082 |
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