24 12 2012 13 32 00 Measuring Poverty Relative Poverty at large Absolute Poverty Basic needs Poverty threshold that is tied to the average earnings of the population Example earning incomes at or below the median income Orshansky Economic Food Plan 1964 Minimum adequate diet x3 Adjust each year for inflation Food vs housing costs New measures for poverty Today CPI used in calculation Poverty Threshold vs Guidelines Threshold used by Census for statistical purposes Poverty threshold for family of four assuming 2 parents children 22 113 Guideline used by HHS for administrative purposes Poverty guideline for family of four 22 350 Poverty threshold for family of four should be 29 747 Measuring Poverty Threshold Minimize poverty because Does not keep up with inflation Housing takes up larger portion of budget than food Wide variation in cost of living by locality Ignores differences in medical care needs of a families Census takers miss many poor people Alternative measure as supplement Sept 2011 Accounts for medical costs transportation child care geographic differences in living conditions food stamps tax credits Poverty Guidelines Over Time From 1987 2011 2 Person Family 7 396 14 710 3 Person Family 9 056 18 530 4 Person Family 11 611 22 350 5 Person Family 13 737 26 170 How Many People are There 2007 Official Poverty Line All Persons 12 5 Children under 18 18 0 150 of Poverty Line 175 of Poverty Line All Persons 21 8 Children under 18 29 3 All Persons 26 1 Children under 18 34 5 Bioregional Differences How can we define poverty threshold and take bioregional differences into account Differences in housing prices Differences in food prices Differences in regional economics Differences in regional environments Case Mississippi NPR story What makes poverty in Mississippi different from poverty in Maryland Arizona or Wisconsin Maslow s Hierarchy of Needs Self Actualization Esteem Love Safety Physiological needs Structural Vulnerability Mark Rank Tenuous conditions of economic vulnerability One paycheck away from being poor Importance of social class Lack of opportunities for all Americans 24 12 2012 13 32 00 24 12 2012 13 32 00
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