POVERTY

Poverty



Poverty

Introduction

The public generally agrees that government has some obligation to provide support for those who are unable to meet basic needs. Yet, until recently, poverty rates have been rising steadily. In 1995, 36.4 million Americans lived in poverty. Currently, one of every five US children is poor. There also is great concern that the former welfare system fostered long-term dependency on government subsidies.

Discussion

Research has documented long-lasting negative effects of poverty on children's health, educational progress, and social adjustment. We know poverty is harmful and creates tremendous future costs to society. Poor children are more likely to fall behind ...