Poverty in America

The Guardian reports that "a record 46 million Americans were living in poverty in 2010, pushing the US poverty rate to its highest level since 1993, according to a government report on the grim effects of stubbornly high unemployment.... the US census bureau said the poverty rate rose for a third consecutive year to hit 15.1% in 2010. The number of people in poverty was the largest since the government first began publishing estimates, in 1959". A sobering thought. I listened to a Radio 4 podcast on food poverty in the UK last week too and the rise of food banks ...

Comments

[Douglas Karr]

Key to these studies is actually investigating what "poverty" is defined as. First, the income rate does not include additional funding that the government supplies for food and housing. Additionally, most US citizens "in poverty" have refrigerators, two televisions, mobile phones, cable, and many even have a gaming machine. They also have access to medical care. In short, the United States has redefined what poverty actually is... and it's wealthy compared to the rest of the world.

[Louise Manning]

You are right to say that each country defines what it considers to be "poverty" and that this definition varies around the world. Therefore "poverty" is relative from country to country. Having received your comment I have read the US Census Bureau definition of poverty and there are 48 parameters described as poverty thresholds. In the UK there is also no easy measure for what poverty is either, but the term proves very emotive.

I think this quote probably sums up what we are saying:
"The most commonly used way to measure poverty is based on incomes. A person is considered poor if his or her income level falls below some minimum level necessary to meet basic needs. This minimum level is usually called the "poverty line". What is necessary to satisfy basic needs varies across time and societies. Therefore, poverty lines vary in time and place, and each country uses lines which are appropriate to its level of development, societal norms and values."
The World Bank Organisation