John Lettieri, President and CEO of Economic Innovation Group | Official Website
John Lettieri, President and CEO of Economic Innovation Group | Official Website
On a per capita basis, this translates to $10,095 per resident in 2022, up from $7,189 in 2012 and $1,360 in 1970, ranking Washington County as the 38th fastest-growing in per capita government transfers among Wisconsin counties over the past 10 years.
Meanwhile, Washington County had the sixth smallest share of income derived from government transfers, making it one of the smallest dependent counties in the state.
Among Wisconsin's counties, Menominee County saw the largest increase in transfer dependency over the past 10 years, surging 0.2% from 36.4% in 2012. In dollar terms, government transfers per capita in Menominee County jumped from $11,873 in 2012 to $15,176 in 2022.
For comparison, the statewide average was 18.1% in 2022, showing a higher dependency than the national average of 17.6%. On a per capita level, this translates to $11,137 per resident, 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 Washington County, reliance on government transfers was just 5.7% (or $1,360 per capita in inflation-adjusted 2022 dollars) in 1970. This has since increased to a total of 9.0% 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 Washington County included:
- Social Security: $4,771 per capita (47.3% of total transfers)
- Medicare: $2,944 per capita (29.2% of total transfers)
- Medicaid: $1,000 per capita (9.9% of total transfers)
- Income Maintenance Programs: $492 per capita (4.9% of total transfers)
With 19.8% of the population aged 65 and older, Washington County has a significant demand for 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.
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 Since 2012 | Per Capita Since 1970 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Menominee County | 36.6% | +0.2% | - | $15,176 | $3,303 | - |
| Ashland County | 34.5% | +7.2% | +19% | $15,884 | $4,615 | $13,120 |
| Forest County | 34.1% | +4.3% | +15.8% | $15,420 | $3,244 | $12,519 |
| Price County | 33.3% | +7.7% | +19% | $17,263 | $5,128 | $14,880 |
| Burnett County | 33.2% | +4.6% | +15.4% | $15,942 | $3,621 | $13,075 |
| Adams County | 32.4% | +2.7% | +16.1% | $14,485 | $2,195 | $11,847 |
| Iron County | 32.4% | +3.6% | +13.8% | $17,398 | $3,643 | $14,273 |
| Washburn County | 32.1% | +4.1% | +13.2% | $17,768 | $4,201 | $14,472 |
| Sawyer County | 31.8% | +4.5% | +9.4% | $16,196 | $3,343 | $12,499 |
| Langlade County | 30.7% | +4.7% | +17.3% | $15,600 | $3,932 | $13,245 |
| Marinette County | 29.7% | +4.3% | +16.5% | $15,525 | $3,943 | $13,044 |
| Rusk County | 29.2% | +2.4% | +12.8% | $15,400 | $4,094 | $12,920 |
| Marquette County | 28.8% | +2.7% | +13.5% | $14,129 | $3,183 | $11,332 |
| Vilas County | 28.6% | +1.8% | +13.2% | $17,111 | $3,608 | $14,193 |
| Juneau County | 28.1% | +4.4% | +15.7% | $13,132 | $3,316 | $10,719 |
| Douglas County | 28% | +3.1% | +13.6% | $13,845 | $3,200 | $10,912 |
| Crawford County | 27.2% | +3.4% | +14.5% | $13,798 | $3,892 | $11,609 |
| Bayfield County | 27.1% | +4.4% | +10% | $14,349 | $3,411 | $11,640 |
| Waushara County | 27.1% | +4.3% | +13.2% | $12,670 | $2,727 | $10,156 |
| Oneida County | 27% | +3.1% | +13.9% | $15,125 | $2,829 | $12,386 |
| Lincoln County | 26.7% | +3.1% | +14.1% | $14,171 | $3,407 | $11,835 |
| Richland County | 26.2% | +3.8% | +15.8% | $13,438 | $3,771 | $11,526 |
| Waupaca County | 26% | +3.7% | +12.7% | $14,209 | $3,591 | $11,407 |
| Wood County | 25.4% | +5.2% | +16.9% | $13,504 | $3,817 | $11,676 |
| Pepin County | 24.7% | +2.9% | +12.3% | $14,870 | $3,978 | $12,527 |
| Green Lake County | 24.6% | +5.4% | +15.7% | $12,723 | $3,012 | $10,612 |
| Jackson County | 24.5% | +5.9% | +9.3% | $12,275 | $3,373 | $9,659 |
| Shawano County | 24.4% | +2.3% | - | $12,311 | $2,818 | - |
| Polk County | 24.1% | +3.1% | +11.9% | $13,059 | $3,191 | $10,716 |
| Barron County | 24% | +3.6% | +10.4% | $13,933 | $3,526 | $11,520 |
| Vernon County | 24% | +3.5% | +10.9% | $12,144 | $3,424 | $9,856 |
| Florence County | 23.8% | +0.8% | +8% | $14,800 | $3,081 | $11,884 |
| Buffalo County | 23.2% | +3.6% | +12.4% | $12,825 | $3,401 | $10,662 |
| Milwaukee County | 23.2% | +1.9% | +14.4% | $13,056 | $2,482 | $10,672 |
| Taylor County | 23.1% | +3.4% | +11.1% | $11,576 | $3,234 | $9,705 |
| Trempealeau County | 22.8% | +4% | +9.3% | $11,677 | $2,466 | $9,097 |
| Manitowoc County | 22.4% | +3.7% | +13.7% | $12,253 | $2,896 | $10,423 |
| Clark County | 22.3% | +2% | +10.8% | $11,465 | $3,070 | $9,415 |
| Monroe County | 22.3% | +2.9% | +10.7% | $11,153 | $2,923 | $8,886 |
| Oconto County | 21.8% | +2.3% | +9.4% | $11,724 | $2,569 | $9,663 |
| Dunn County | 21.7% | +2.5% | +10.4% | $10,710 | $2,419 | $8,744 |
| Grant County | 21.7% | +2.8% | +13.2% | $11,354 | $2,712 | $9,524 |
| Chippewa County | 21.4% | +3% | +11% | $11,657 | $2,799 | $9,622 |
| Rock County | 21.3% | +1.9% | +13.2% | $11,186 | $2,322 | $9,343 |
| Racine County | 20.7% | +2.8% | +12.8% | $11,909 | $2,808 | $10,011 |
| Door County | 20.3% | +1.1% | +9.8% | $14,465 | $3,254 | $12,244 |
| Kewaunee County | 19.9% | +3.6% | +11.5% | $11,473 | $3,408 | $9,863 |
| Fond du Lac County | 19.8% | +2.3% | +11.6% | $11,502 | $2,991 | $9,655 |
| Portage County | 19.8% | +2% | +11.3% | $10,759 | $2,658 | $9,182 |
| Dodge County | 19.4% | +2.7% | +12.4% | $10,181 | $2,339 | $8,723 |
| Lafayette County | 19.1% | +2.3% | +11.1% | $9,962 | $2,234 | $8,257 |
| Jefferson County | 18.8% | +2.1% | +10.6% | $10,358 | $2,531 | $8,505 |
| Eau Claire County | 18.4% | +2% | +9.7% | $10,541 | $2,369 | $8,572 |
| La Crosse County | 18% | +1.8% | +8.4% | $10,884 | $2,691 | $8,854 |
| Kenosha County | 17.9% | +0.4% | +10.2% | $10,440 | $2,289 | $8,530 |
| Sauk County | 17.8% | +1.1% | +9% | $11,060 | $2,927 | $9,017 |
| Winnebago County | 17.8% | +2.4% | +10.2% | $10,113 | $2,579 | $8,373 |
| Sheboygan County | 17.6% | +2.6% | +9.8% | $10,598 | $2,605 | $8,794 |
| Green County | 17.4% | +2.7% | +11% | $10,659 | $2,799 | $8,975 |
| Pierce County | 17.3% | +3.2% | +9.1% | $10,080 | $3,328 | $8,283 |
| Columbia County | 17% | +1.5% | +7.1% | $10,437 | $2,301 | $8,235 |
| Iowa County | 17% | +1.9% | +8.3% | $10,012 | $2,569 | $8,334 |
| Marathon County | 16.7% | +1.1% | +8.4% | $10,023 | $2,106 | $8,346 |
| Walworth County | 16.7% | +0.5% | +8.4% | $10,491 | $2,739 | $8,635 |
| Outagamie County | 15.2% | +2.1% | +8.3% | $9,177 | $2,365 | $7,655 |
| Brown County | 15% | +1.6% | +8.1% | $9,355 | $2,147 | $7,848 |
| Washington County | 14.7% | +2.7% | +9% | $10,095 | $2,905 | $8,735 |
| St. Croix County | 12.6% | +1.2% | +5.3% | $8,500 | $2,345 | $6,802 |
| Calumet County | 12.1% | +0.7% | +6.7% | $7,140 | $1,464 | $5,963 |
| Waukesha County | 11.5% | +1.2% | +6.7% | $10,097 | $2,567 | $8,815 |
| Ozaukee County | 10.2% | +1.3% | +5.9% | $10,217 | $2,642 | $9,014 |
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