Political+Geography

US Poverty

1. What is the definition of poverty based on the US Census data? Be specific and clear. (You CAN go to the Census.gov site to find this one!) The Census Bureau 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). ([]) 2. How does the definition of poverty from the US Department of Health and Human Services/Federal Register differ from the Census definition (HHS, and also found on the Census site)? Why would these two differ (there IS an explanation)? There are two slightly different versions of the federal poverty measure: poverty thresholds and poverty guidelines. The poverty thresholds are the original version of the federal poverty measure. The thresholds are used mainly for statistical purposes — for instance, preparing estimates of the number of Americans in poverty each year. (In other words, all official poverty population figures are calculated using the poverty thresholds, not the guidelines.) The poverty guidelines are the other version of the federal poverty measure. They are issued each year in the //Federal Register// by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The guidelines are a simplification of the poverty thresholds for use for administrative purposes — for instance, determining financial eligibility for certain federal programs. The poverty guidelines apply to both aged and non-aged units. The guidelines have never had an aged/non-aged distinction; only the Census Bureau (statistical) poverty thresholds have separate figures for aged and non-aged one-person and two-person units. The poverty guidelines (unlike the poverty thresholds) are designated by the year in which they are issued. For instance, the guidelines issued in January 2009 are designated the 2009 poverty guidelines. However, the 2009 HHS poverty guidelines only reflect price changes through calendar year 2008; accordingly, they are approximately equal to the Census Bureau poverty thresholds for calendar year 2008. ([]) 3. Do any of these definitions of poverty take into account geographic location factors? Explain. No, none of these definitions take geographical location factors into account. They are all based on family size and your income not on the location you live. These definitions break down the poverty by states but knowing where the poverty in these states cannot be determined or is not even looked at based on these definiations.

4. Give 3 examples of how global poverty can be defined, explain each, and list your sources with each example. a. Poverty is hunger. Poverty is lack of shelter. Poverty is being sick and not being able to see a doctor. Poverty is not having access to school and not knowing how to read. Poverty is not having a job, is fear for the future, living one day at a time. Poverty is losing a child to illness brought about by unclean water. Poverty is powerlessness, lack of representation and freedom. ([|http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTPOVERTY/0,,contentMDK:20153855~menuPK:373757~pagePK:148956~piPK:216618~theSitePK:336992,00.html]) b. Poverty is generally categorized as material deprivation. Generally, poverty is defined as the state of being poor or deficient in money or means of subsistence. ([]) "Poverty goes beyond lack of income. It encompasses economic, social, and governance dimensions. Economically, the poor are not only deprived of income and resources, but of opportunities. Markets and jobs are often difficult to access, because of low capabilities and geographical and social exclusion. Limited access to education affects the ability of the poor to get jobs and to obtain information that could improve the quality of their lives. Poor health du to inadequate nutrition, hygiene and health services further limits their prospects for work and from realizing their mental and physical potential. This fragile position is exacerbated by insecurity. Living in marginal conditions with no resources to fall back on, shocks become hard or impossible to offset. The situation is made worse by the structure of societies and institutions that tend to exclude the poor from participating in decision-making over the direction of social and economic development." (Okinawa Summit (G8) - July 2000 []
 * //Global Poverty…//**