John Lettieri, President and CEO of Economic Innovation Group | Official Website
John Lettieri, President and CEO of Economic Innovation Group | Official Website
Among Georgia’s counties, Calhoun County saw the largest increase in transfer dependency over the past 10 years, surging 13.6% from 30% in 2012 to 43.6% in 2022, and up 27.4% from just 16.2% in 1970. In dollar terms, government transfers per capita in Calhoun County jumped from $8,775 in 2012 to $14,772 in 2022, a stark contrast to the $2,012 recorded in 1970.
Liberty County followed with the second-largest increase in transfer dependency, increasing 8.9% from 17.8% in 2012 to 26.7% in 2022, and an overall increase of 21.5% from 1970’s 5.2% transfer dependency. This trend is reflected in per capita amounts, with residents of Liberty County receiving an average of $10,546 in transfer income in 2022, up from $6,710 in 2012 and more than double the $2,012 recorded in 1970.
Additionally, Quitman 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. Calhoun County and Clay County followed closely behind, with transfer dependency rates of 43.6% and 43.1% in 2022, respectively.
Compared to 1970, Quitman County increased by 21.5%, while Calhoun County and Clay County have increased by 27.4% and 25.1%, respectively, showing sustained reliance on government transfers. Residents in Quitman County received an average of $17,098 in transfers per capita, with Calhoun County and Clay County close behind at $14,772 and $15,863, respectively.
For comparison, the statewide average was 17.6% in 2022, showing the same dependency than the national average of 17.6%. On a per capita level, this translates to $9,964 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 Georgia, reliance on government transfers was just 7.4% (or $1,531 per capita in inflation-adjusted 2022 dollars) in 1970. This has since increased to 17.6% (or $9,964 per capita) in 2022, reflecting a total increase of 10.2% 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 Georgia included:
- Social Security: $3,251 (32.6% of total transfers)
- Medicare: $2,465 (24.7% of total transfers)
- Medicaid: $1,320 (13.3% of total transfers)
- Income Maintenance Programs: $1,449 (14.5% of total transfers)
With 15% of the population aged 65 and older, Georgia 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 Georgia, reliance on government transfers has similarly increased from 7.4% (or $1,531 per capita) in 1970 to 17.6% (or $9,964 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appling County | 28.5% | 0.5% | 16.9% | $12,415 | $2,863 | $10,772 |
| Atkinson County | 30.2% | 1% | 13.2% | $11,058 | $2,421 | $8,931 |
| Bacon County | 30.2% | -0.3% | 18.9% | $12,052 | $2,116 | $10,257 |
| Baker County | 29.4% | 6.4% | 18.3% | $14,612 | $3,804 | $13,142 |
| Baldwin County | 32.8% | 1.7% | 23.6% | $13,879 | $3,428 | $12,604 |
| Banks County | 20.5% | -3.2% | 9.8% | $9,232 | $772 | $7,845 |
| Barrow County | 18.9% | -0.3% | 9.8% | $8,868 | $1,810 | $7,207 |
| Bartow County | 20.4% | -0.7% | 13.4% | $9,915 | $1,802 | $8,600 |
| Ben Hill County | 36% | 2.5% | 22.2% | $13,895 | $3,004 | $11,684 |
| Berrien County | 33.4% | 4.8% | 24.2% | $13,313 | $3,562 | $11,792 |
| Bibb County | 30% | 4.8% | 21.9% | $13,879 | $3,366 | $12,042 |
| Bleckley County | 29.2% | 1.6% | 20.8% | $11,986 | $1,674 | $10,442 |
| Brantley County | 33% | 1.2% | 21.6% | $11,523 | $2,606 | $9,709 |
| Brooks County | 33.2% | 4.2% | 20.5% | $13,124 | $2,526 | $11,161 |
| Bryan County | 16% | 2.9% | 4.5% | $9,203 | $2,178 | $7,292 |
| Bulloch County | 22.8% | 1.8% | 14.5% | $8,759 | $1,929 | $7,606 |
| Burke County | 30.3% | 1.3% | 16.1% | $12,298 | $2,205 | $10,139 |
| Butts County | 27.7% | 0% | 16.3% | $11,548 | $2,469 | $9,724 |
| Calhoun County | 43.6% | 13.6% | 27.4% | $14,772 | $5,997 | $12,760 |
| Camden County | 24.1% | 4.7% | 15.9% | $10,527 | $3,144 | $9,198 |
| Candler County | 34.3% | 0.4% | 24.6% | $13,918 | $3,153 | $12,276 |
| Carroll County | 21.9% | 0.3% | 12.5% | $11,050 | $2,556 | $9,467 |
| Catoosa County | 23.1% | 1% | 17.5% | $9,790 | $1,650 | $8,792 |
| Charlton County | 33% | 2.7% | 14.8% | $10,364 | $2,520 | $7,945 |
| Chatham County | 19% | 1.4% | 10.4% | $10,781 | $2,130 | $8,914 |
| Chattahoochee County | 15.6% | 6.9% | 14.5% | $5,667 | $2,189 | $5,442 |
| Chattooga County | 37% | 3.5% | 26.1% | $13,707 | $3,504 | $11,957 |
| Cherokee County | 12.9% | 0.9% | 5.8% | $8,539 | $2,532 | $7,267 |
| Clarke County | 19.9% | -0.3% | 14.3% | $8,151 | $1,447 | $7,080 |
| Clay County | 43.1% | 4.7% | 25.1% | $15,863 | $3,229 | $13,811 |
| Clayton County | 27.8% | 3.3% | 24.4% | $9,121 | $1,836 | $8,340 |
| Clinch County | 34.5% | 2.1% | 22.3% | $14,388 | $2,802 | $12,797 |
| Cobb County | 11.5% | 0.5% | 7.3% | $8,013 | $1,991 | $7,015 |
| Coffee County | 28.9% | 0.4% | 19% | $11,256 | $2,242 | $9,741 |
| Colquitt County | 31.3% | 2.9% | 20.2% | $12,898 | $3,245 | $11,033 |
| Columbia County | 17.2% | 4.1% | 11.2% | $10,146 | $3,222 | $8,831 |
| Cook County | 32.3% | 3.3% | 22.6% | $12,586 | $2,706 | $11,033 |
| Coweta County | 15.2% | 0.1% | 5.8% | $9,128 | $2,203 | $7,356 |
| Crawford County | 27.6% | 1.7% | 18.3% | $11,093 | $2,054 | $9,652 |
| Crisp County | 33% | 1.5% | 19% | $14,709 | $4,495 | $12,548 |
| Dade County | 27.5% | 2.2% | 18.8% | $11,545 | $2,894 | $10,233 |
| Dawson County | 17% | -0.7% | 7.2% | $10,381 | $2,903 | $8,843 |
| Decatur County | 30% | 2.7% | 16.9% | $12,345 | $2,071 | $10,515 |
| DeKalb County | 14.4% | -0.1% | 10.7% | $9,044 | $2,089 | $7,995 |
| Dodge County | 36.4% | 7.6% | 23.3% | $13,189 | $3,881 | $11,054 |
| Dooly County | 32.2% | 4% | 19.2% | $14,414 | $6,112 | $12,220 |
| Dougherty County | 33.9% | 5.4% | 26.1% | $15,135 | $4,384 | $13,683 |
| Douglas County | 21.8% | 3.3% | 15.7% | $9,531 | $2,538 | $8,323 |
| Early County | 34.9% | 6.4% | 19.1% | $14,699 | $2,948 | $12,469 |
| Echols County | 24.2% | 0.9% | 12.7% | $7,900 | $1,164 | $6,290 |
| Effingham County | 18% | 2.4% | 9.2% | $8,697 | $1,991 | $7,179 |
| Elbert County | 34% | 2.9% | 22.8% | $14,440 | $3,248 | $12,559 |
| Emanuel County | 35% | 0.4% | 22.8% | $13,658 | $2,089 | $11,961 |
| Evans County | 30.2% | 3.4% | 18.5% | $12,255 | $2,849 | $10,436 |
| Fannin County | 32.1% | -2.6% | 18.9% | $15,903 | $3,952 | $14,165 |
| Fayette County | 13.7% | 1.8% | 8.5% | $10,318 | $2,997 | $9,048 |
| Floyd County | 28.6% | 1.5% | 20.4% | $12,615 | $2,130 | $10,997 |
| Forsyth County | 7.3% | -0.1% | 1.5% | $5,784 | $1,094 | $4,757 |
| Franklin County | 27.7% | -1% | 14.7% | $12,225 | $1,659 | $10,227 |
| Fulton County | 8.3% | -0.1% | 2.1% | $8,299 | $1,634 | $6,619 |
| Gilmer County | 30.3% | 1.5% | 18.6% | $13,738 | $3,549 | $11,914 |
| Glascock County | 32.4% | 3.9% | 17.5% | $12,732 | $3,259 | $10,276 |
| Glynn County | 20.9% | 0.9% | 14.2% | $12,563 | $3,330 | $11,127 |
| Gordon County | 23.3% | -0.5% | 15.6% | $10,452 | $2,197 | $9,032 |
| Grady County | 28.6% | 3.4% | 16.7% | $11,011 | $2,308 | $9,243 |
| Greene County | 20.1% | -4.2% | 5.9% | $15,265 | $2,652 | $13,434 |
| Gwinnett County | 14.2% | 2.1% | 9.4% | $7,234 | $2,140 | $6,186 |
| Habersham County | 27.2% | 1.3% | 17.8% | $10,924 | $2,198 | $9,496 |
| Hall County | 16.6% | -1.9% | 9.5% | $9,503 | $1,825 | $8,145 |
| Hancock County | 42.6% | 2.6% | 25.4% | $15,132 | $4,051 | $13,223 |
| Haralson County | 27% | -0.8% | 18.6% | $12,173 | $2,073 | $10,505 |
| Harris County | 18.4% | 2.5% | 8.4% | $10,793 | $3,035 | $8,778 |
| Hart County | 28% | 0.8% | 17.8% | $12,819 | $2,757 | $11,190 |
| Heard County | 28.5% | 0.4% | 14.8% | $11,939 | $2,794 | $10,101 |
| Henry County | 19.6% | 3.1% | 12.4% | $9,213 | $2,672 | $7,839 |
| Houston County | 21.8% | 4.1% | 18.3% | $10,498 | $2,454 | $9,595 |
| Irwin County | 30.5% | 0.9% | 19.5% | $12,925 | $2,938 | $11,206 |
| Jackson County | 18.7% | -1.3% | 8.5% | $10,270 | $2,334 | $8,658 |
| Jasper County | 23.3% | -1.3% | 11.4% | $11,056 | $1,953 | $9,024 |
| Jeff Davis County | 32% | 2.8% | 23.7% | $11,727 | $2,076 | $10,348 |
| Jefferson County | 37% | 3.5% | 22.6% | $15,369 | $3,899 | $13,308 |
| Jenkins County | 36.3% | 3.6% | 21.8% | $13,358 | $3,421 | $11,363 |
| Johnson County | 43% | 6.9% | 29.6% | $13,642 | $4,009 | $11,798 |
| Jones County | 23.5% | 1% | 17% | $10,133 | $1,350 | $8,982 |
| Lamar County | 27.4% | -1.4% | 16% | $11,969 | $1,650 | $10,206 |
| Lanier County | 32.8% | 4.6% | 23.5% | $11,097 | $3,016 | $9,437 |
| Laurens County | 30.8% | 3% | 20.7% | $13,166 | $2,933 | $11,500 |
| Lee County | 17.9% | 3.8% | 9.2% | $9,330 | $2,650 | $7,904 |
| Liberty County | 26.7% | 8.9% | 21.5% | $10,546 | $3,836 | $9,384 |
| Lincoln County | 30.7% | 2.6% | 20% | $14,264 | $3,574 | $12,540 |
| Long County | 25.4% | 6.4% | 10% | $10,123 | $3,944 | $8,025 |
| Lowndes County | 25.1% | 3.4% | 17.2% | $11,034 | $2,946 | $9,454 |
| Lumpkin County | 23.4% | 0.7% | 15% | $10,986 | $2,721 | $9,729 |
| McDuffie County | 32.5% | 4.9% | 25.9% | $13,816 | $3,862 | $12,501 |
| McIntosh County | 31.6% | 3.3% | 18.8% | $15,059 | $5,737 | $13,541 |
| Macon County | 28.7% | 0.7% | 14% | $12,375 | $3,580 | $10,324 |
| Madison County | 24.1% | -1.3% | 13.6% | $11,179 | $1,820 | $9,618 |
| Marion County | 34.6% | 4.1% | 21% | $13,175 | $4,521 | $11,235 |
| Meriwether County | 32.1% | 1% | 19.1% | $14,114 | $3,156 | $12,148 |
| Miller County | 30.9% | 5.8% | 17.2% | $15,804 | $5,393 | $13,776 |
| Mitchell County | 30.9% | 3.7% | 18.4% | $13,634 | $4,080 | $11,667 |
| Monroe County | 19.1% | -0.8% | 11.3% | $10,334 | $1,427 | $8,890 |
| Montgomery County | 27.8% | 0.1% | 15.2% | $10,318 | $1,370 | $8,322 |
| Morgan County | 19.5% | -1.6% | 8.5% | $11,759 | $2,039 | $9,939 |
| Murray County | 28.5% | 1.1% | 20.9% | $10,679 | $2,375 | $9,431 |
| Muscogee County | 26.6% | 5% | 20.1% | $12,794 | $3,131 | $11,230 |
| Newton County | 24.3% | 1.8% | 16% | $10,124 | $2,327 | $8,621 |
| Oconee County | 10% | -0.2% | 0.4% | $7,954 | $1,650 | $6,388 |
| Oglethorpe County | 22.5% | 0.8% | 10.8% | $10,584 | $2,165 | $9,080 |
| Paulding County | 15% | 0.2% | 5.9% | $7,197 | $1,586 | $5,764 |
| Peach County | 31.2% | 5.1% | 23.2% | $13,690 | $3,941 | $12,014 |
| Pickens County | 22.5% | -0.8% | 12.9% | $13,642 | $2,845 | $12,044 |
| Pierce County | 31% | 1.6% | 19.3% | $12,932 | $2,412 | $10,887 |
| Pike County | 19.4% | -1.9% | 6.9% | $9,841 | $1,616 | $7,950 |
| Polk County | 32% | 1.1% | 19.5% | $12,700 | $2,557 | $10,687 |
| Pulaski County | 31.2% | 4.8% | 20.3% | $12,795 | $4,195 | $10,569 |
| Putnam County | 24.3% | -1.7% | 14.5% | $13,236 | $2,551 | $11,638 |
| Quitman County | 46.7% | 6.2% | 21.5% | $17,098 | $5,006 | $14,368 |
| Rabun County | 28.4% | -0.4% | 13.4% | $14,896 | $3,519 | $12,731 |
| Randolph County | 39.2% | 7.2% | 25.9% | $16,475 | $5,226 | $14,673 |
| Richmond County | 30.1% | 3.5% | 22.6% | $12,729 | $2,612 | $11,143 |
| Rockdale County | 25.3% | 4.1% | 19.4% | $10,414 | $2,511 | $9,178 |
| Schley County | 24.4% | 2.4% | 12.5% | $10,606 | $3,270 | $8,551 |
| Screven County | 35.6% | 5.8% | 21.7% | $14,203 | $3,559 | $12,295 |
| Seminole County | 32.3% | 7.7% | 18.3% | $14,914 | $3,088 | $12,660 |
| Spalding County | 30.9% | 1.6% | 21% | $12,955 | $2,412 | $11,069 |
| Stephens County | 32% | 2.3% | 22.2% | $14,358 | $3,360 | $12,790 |
| Stewart County | 40.1% | 3% | 27.6% | $14,317 | $4,726 | $12,405 |
| Sumter County | 33.2% | 4.6% | 21.4% | $14,200 | $3,696 | $12,216 |
| Talbot County | 38.9% | 6.5% | 25.1% | $18,010 | $6,863 | $16,352 |
| Taliaferro County | 32.2% | -2.5% | 8.9% | $14,032 | $2,531 | $10,997 |
| Tattnall County | 29.3% | 3.2% | 17.1% | $10,755 | $2,613 | $9,092 |
| Taylor County | 37.1% | 2.3% | 24% | $14,136 | $3,410 | $12,120 |
| Telfair County | 42.8% | 6.5% | 28.1% | $12,155 | $3,592 | $10,042 |
| Terrell County | 34.1% | 7.3% | 20.8% | $15,455 | $3,931 | $13,589 |
| Thomas County | 25.6% | 1.4% | 14.4% | $13,712 | $2,996 | $11,750 |
| Tift County | 27.1% | 2.2% | 18.7% | $12,061 | $2,718 | $10,638 |
| Toombs County | 32.4% | 4.4% | 20.2% | $13,482 | $2,942 | $11,640 |
| Towns County | 38.7% | 1.7% | 20.8% | $18,412 | $4,136 | $16,240 |
| Treutlen County | 36.1% | 3.6% | 21.1% | $13,140 | $3,062 | $11,313 |
| Troup County | 26.4% | 3.4% | 15.1% | $11,801 | $2,731 | $9,807 |
| Turner County | 38.8% | 5.9% | 28.2% | $14,314 | $2,761 | $12,692 |
| Twiggs County | 37.5% | 4.4% | 25.6% | $16,681 | $4,146 | $15,127 |
| Union County | 36.3% | 2.9% | 20.9% | $16,165 | $3,497 | $14,282 |
| Upson County | 31.7% | 1% | 21.8% | $13,001 | $1,943 | $11,222 |
| Walker County | 29.5% | 1.8% | 21.2% | $12,497 | $2,891 | $10,928 |
| Walton County | 20.8% | 1% | 11.2% | $10,729 | $2,866 | $8,974 |
| Ware County | 39.1% | 3.6% | 26.1% | $15,017 | $2,979 | $12,692 |
| Warren County | 39.2% | 3.9% | 28% | $15,740 | $3,976 | $13,670 |
| Washington County | 34% | 7% | 22.5% | $13,690 | $3,477 | $11,915 |
| Wayne County | 31.9% | 2.6% | 20.9% | $12,063 | $2,178 | $10,258 |
| Webster County | 30.2% | 7.4% | 15.4% | $11,925 | $3,724 | $10,083 |
| Wheeler County | 39% | 6.9% | 22.8% | $9,191 | $2,397 | $6,866 |
| White County | 27.2% | 0.6% | 16.8% | $13,427 | $3,964 | $11,931 |
| Whitfield County | 21.9% | -0.1% | 15.2% | $9,918 | $2,129 | $8,573 |
| Wilcox County | 37.8% | 6.1% | 22.5% | $12,583 | $3,164 | $10,142 |
| Wilkes County | 29.5% | -1.1% | 16.5% | $15,591 | $3,802 | $13,567 |
| Wilkinson County | 34.8% | 2.8% | 24.9% | $15,016 | $3,467 | $13,361 |
| Worth County | 29.2% | 5% | 18.5% | $11,965 | $3,122 | $10,329 |
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