POVERTY IN THE UNITED STATES
How is poverty currently defined?
There are many different definitions for poverty. By exploring different definitions we can obtain
an understanding of poverty from the perspective of individuals to Governmental officials of the United
States. A quote on poverty from Aristotle stated that "poverty is the parent of revolution and crime"
(Barusch, 2012).
According to the Merriam Webster dictionary poverty is defined as; 1 a : the state of one ho lacks a usual or socially
acceptable amount of money or material possessions b : renunciation as a member of a religious order of the right as an
individual to own property 2 : scarcity, dearth 3 a : debility due to malnutrition b : lack of fertility (Merriam Webster,2012).
Poverty can be defined in both absolute and relative terms. Absolute poverty is based on a fixed level of resources, or
threshold. Someone whose resources fall below the threshold experiences absolute poverty. Relative poverty is based on
comparison. Someone whose situation is disadvantaged compared to another person or time experiences, relative poverty
(Barusch, 2012).
The most common definition of poverty used in the United States, the Federal Poverty Threshold, is an absolute measure
(Barusch, 2012). The Census Bureau, following the Office of Management and Budget's(OMB) Statistical Policy Directive 14
guidelines, uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who is in poverty. If a
family's total income is less than the family's threshold, then that family and every individual in it is considered in poverty. The
official poverty thresholds do not vary geographically, but they are updated for inflation using Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). The
official poverty definition uses money income before taxes and does not include capital gains or noncash benefits (such as public
housing, Medicaid, and food stamps) (The United States Census Bureau, 2012). ...
On a personal level I feel poverty is a person who can not care for themselves or their family with their current economic
situation. The person has a low paying job or no job, some may be working two jobs, which are not sufficient to survive on. The
person can not afford to pay for housing, food, clothing, or every day necessities.
an understanding of poverty from the perspective of individuals to Governmental officials of the United
States. A quote on poverty from Aristotle stated that "poverty is the parent of revolution and crime"
(Barusch, 2012).
According to the Merriam Webster dictionary poverty is defined as; 1 a : the state of one ho lacks a usual or socially
acceptable amount of money or material possessions b : renunciation as a member of a religious order of the right as an
individual to own property 2 : scarcity, dearth 3 a : debility due to malnutrition b : lack of fertility (Merriam Webster,2012).
Poverty can be defined in both absolute and relative terms. Absolute poverty is based on a fixed level of resources, or
threshold. Someone whose resources fall below the threshold experiences absolute poverty. Relative poverty is based on
comparison. Someone whose situation is disadvantaged compared to another person or time experiences, relative poverty
(Barusch, 2012).
The most common definition of poverty used in the United States, the Federal Poverty Threshold, is an absolute measure
(Barusch, 2012). The Census Bureau, following the Office of Management and Budget's(OMB) Statistical Policy Directive 14
guidelines, uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who is in poverty. If a
family's total income is less than the family's threshold, then that family and every individual in it is considered in poverty. The
official poverty thresholds do not vary geographically, but they are updated for inflation using Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). The
official poverty definition uses money income before taxes and does not include capital gains or noncash benefits (such as public
housing, Medicaid, and food stamps) (The United States Census Bureau, 2012). ...
On a personal level I feel poverty is a person who can not care for themselves or their family with their current economic
situation. The person has a low paying job or no job, some may be working two jobs, which are not sufficient to survive on. The
person can not afford to pay for housing, food, clothing, or every day necessities.
How has poverty definition changed over time?
Poverty was determined by the thinking of the day, especially on a governmental level. Some see poverty as a chance to do
a good deed; others see it as a crime and want to inflict punishment or humiliation on the poor; a lack of human capital with
education and training for the poor; a culture; or as limited opportunities. During President Reagan labeled welfare recipients as
"cheats" and "freeloaders." Reagan argued that the federal government should not be in the business of providing welfare, which
he believed was best left to private charities in local communities (Barusch, 2012). Observing the current economic situation,
poverty is something that could easily happen to any one of us during our life time.
a good deed; others see it as a crime and want to inflict punishment or humiliation on the poor; a lack of human capital with
education and training for the poor; a culture; or as limited opportunities. During President Reagan labeled welfare recipients as
"cheats" and "freeloaders." Reagan argued that the federal government should not be in the business of providing welfare, which
he believed was best left to private charities in local communities (Barusch, 2012). Observing the current economic situation,
poverty is something that could easily happen to any one of us during our life time.