POVERTY IN AMERICA

Poverty in America

Abstract

Poverty, however, is not a phenomenon unique to the developing world. According to the Census Bureau, the poverty rate in the United States rose to 13.2 percent in 2008, the highest level since 1997, and a significant increase from 12.5 percent in 2007. This translates to 40 million people living below the poverty line, which is defined as an income of $22,205 for a family of four. The benchmark for ascertaining poverty levels is currently set at three times the annual cost of groceries. This does not take into account the rising medical, transportation, child care, and housing expenses or geographical variations in living costs. Neither does it consider noncash aid.

Table of Content

Abstractii

Introduction1

Discussion1

Poverty in America2

Recent statistics4

Causes of poverty in America5

Current strategies to reduce poverty7

Targeting the poorest7

Economic reforms7

Cash transfers8

Focus on women8

Conclusion8

References10

Poverty in America

Introduction

Poverty is defined as a condition in which one lacks the basic necessities of life. These include food shelter, water, lack of education and dignity. The uneven distribution of poverty at various scales, from the global to the household, via the national, regional, and local, suggests the importance of geographic factors in explaining its prevalence and understanding its nature. Poverty in United States of America is unique in nature with 13-17% Americans live below the poverty line in America. Of course, significant variations exist within regions and nations. Similarly, in USA too poverty rates are usually higher in rural areas, a large and a growing number of poor people live in urbanized areas, with a significant degree of concentration and clustering in distinct neighborhoods and informal settlements.

Discussion

During the recession (2008-09), the poor got poorer and the middle class lost ground. The poverty rate among Americans aged 65 years and older is nearly twice as high as the traditional 10 percent (18.6 percent). Alarmingly, for the first time in history, 1.2 million more of America's poor are living in the suburbs than in the cities. The Center for American Progress further estimates that approximately 17 percent of children in the United States live in or near poverty, and the annual cost to the country's economy of children growing up poor, resulting in their eventual lower productivity and earnings and higher crime rates and health costs, is over half a trillion dollars.

Children and young people are the most likely to suffer poverty. The existence of poverty reflects the failure to fairly distribute the world's resources so that all can have at least a basic quality of life. For young people from majority world countries poverty can mean lack of educational or employment opportunities, lack of access to basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter, and not being involved in making choices about issues that affect them (Chuck and Yeskel 2000). Poverty often causes young people in the majority world to be overlooked, and to become disconnected from their community, services and peers for young people. This is most often reflected in the limited opportunities for young people to have a voice and raise the issues important ...