Question

How is the poverty threshold determined? Is this a good measure of who is actually poor? What groups are overrepresented amongst those in poverty? Why are single mothers overrepresented amongst those in poverty? What policies are currently available to help those in poverty? Are these policies effective?

Answer 1

Poverty is presently determine by poverty line that depicts the minimum consumption expenditure needed by an individual to meet daily basic needs. It is a good measure to identify the poor but not the perfect measure because it lacks qualitative aspects like sanitation facility and environmental deterioration.

The marginalized section of the society are being overly presented the poverty ridden groups like African American, women and Hispanics. Mothers particularly single mother are part of this group because of the inability to fulfil the basic needs of education, health, and nutrition of their offsprings.

Policies undertaken to combat poverty are:

1. Raise the minimum wages.
2. Wage equality among male and female.
3. Investment in high quality child healthcare facility like Obamacare.

However all such measures are in vain until empowerment if women takes place in terms of education, employment, health, and political arena.