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Reforming the U.S. Poverty Standard
Publication Date: January 2009
Publisher(s): National Center for Policy Analysis (U.S.)
Author(s): D. Sean Shurtleff
Funder(s): National Center for Policy Analysis (U.S.)
Funder(s): National Center for Policy Analysis (U.S.)
Topic: Government (Public policy)
Social conditions (Poverty and homelessness)
Keywords: CPI; National Academy of Sciences; Poverty; poverty rate
Type: Brief
Coverage: United States
Abstract:
Policy experts expect the next administration to make major changes in the way the federal government measures poverty. The current poverty standard is an outmoded, 40-year-old measure that is adjusted each year for inflation. It does not account for all of a family's income or living expenses. Many poverty experts support changing the poverty standard. But how should that be done?