Poverty vs. The Economy

Poverty is a lack of goods and services necessary to maintain a minimal adequate standard of living. The definition of the term adequate varies, however, with the general standard of living in a society and with public attitudes toward deprivation. No university accepted definition of basic needs exists because poverty is a relative concept. In poorer countries it means living at the brink of subsistence, while in our country few improvised families confront starvation, although many suffer from undernourishment. A key issue in the area of poverty is inequality. Inequality has been a problem in all societies. No society distributes income evenly. Despite all the conceptual and technical …show more content…

Many persons worked full time year round and still remain poor. For these people and their families, poverty results from low paying jobs as well as from large families and periods of unemployment. The working poor also experience another labor market difficulties. Many leave the work force voluntarily because of illness or disability or become discourage about the prospects of finding a job and stop looking. A greater number of the working poor are employed at low- paying jobs. In 1988, 40 percent of all poor persons worked but could not overcome poverty. One-fifth of all poor families had two or more wage earner for part of the year and remained poor. (Levitan, page 114) The problems for the working poor are frequent joblessness, low wages, deficient education, and inadequate skills. The plight of the working poor can be alleviated by employment programs that streamline the operation of the labor market, increase the productivity of low-income workers, and create opportunities for employment and advancement. Legislation to eliminate discrimination must also be enforced when such employment and training programs are implemented. Programs provide goods and services directly to the needy to supplement their income. Whatever the means of helping the poor with cash or in-kind income, public attention must usually be focused on a specific problems in order to receive political attention. The necessary goods and services