POVERTY AND CHILDREN

Poverty and Children in the United States

Abstract

The problem of poverty is not specific to developing countries. It is also common in developed countries like the United States. The problem of child poverty in the United States has gained attention because the number of children living in poverty is increasing. The rate of child poverty in the United States is higher than other industrialized nations. It is believed that child poverty is associated with poor academic achievements as well as health, emotional, and behavioral problems. For all children in the United States, black have the highest rate of child poverty. It has also found through analyses that Hispanic, black and white children living in rural areas of the country are poorer than their urban and suburban counterparts.

Table of Contents

Introduction1

Discussion1

Why Child Poverty has Become an Overwhelming Problem in the United States1

Measurement of Child Poverty in the United States2

Child Poverty and Racial Inequality in the United States3

Child Poverty in Recent Years6

Conclusion7

Poverty and Children in the United States

Introduction

The problem of poverty is not specific to developing countries. Today, more than 35 million people in the United States are living in poverty. It has been revealed by the United States Census Bureau that the percentage of poverty has decreased to some extent over the last three decades. The more striking fact than the rate of poverty in the United States is the regional variation of poverty. The rate of poverty in the United States is more in the South than the North.

The definition of poverty can be classified into two broad concepts. These concepts include absolute poverty and relative poverty. Absolute poverty is defined as a set of resources required by an individual to reach some threshold of standard of living. The factors considered when calculating income thresholds or poverty lines include the cost of food, housing, and other basic needs. Relative poverty is defined as the well-off of an individual with respect to others in the same society (Sachs, 2005).

Discussion

Why Child Poverty has Become an Overwhelming Problem in the United States

Child poverty in the United States has gained attention because the number of children living in poverty is increasing. There is a substantial amount of research which relates child poverty with lower levels of child well-beings. It is believed that poor children are likely to have poor academic achievements as well as health, emotional, and behavioral problems. Child poverty has become an overwhelming problem in the United States because its rate in the country has exceeded the rate of other industrialized nations.

Countries

Child Poverty Rate

Finland

4.6

Australia

5.8

Belgium

7.2

Canada

9

Germany

9.1

Netherlands

10.4

United States

12.4

Table 1: Rate of Poverty in Different Countries

Measurement of Child Poverty in the United States

Poverty, in the United States, is measured in absolute terms. The absolute poverty line determines the threshold. It is considered that individuals who are below the threshold lack the resources which are required to fulfill basic needs of a healthy life. Poverty threshold or poverty line is based on the economy food plan. The economy food plan has been selected out of ...