Reforming the U.S. Poverty Standard

Publication Date: January 2009

Publisher: National Center for Policy Analysis (U.S.)

Author(s): D. Sean Shurtleff

Research Area: Government; Social conditions

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?