Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Poverty in the U.S.:What You Need to Know & What You
Can Do About It
2017 LSA Annual Conference Breakout Session
Washington, DC
Saturday, May 6, 2017
Delivered by Indivar Dutta-Gupta
Co-Executive Director, Economic Security and Opportunity Initiative, Georgetown Center on Poverty and Inequality
OVERVIEW
1. Who Experiences Poverty in the U.S.?2. What Difference Does Policy Make?3. What Can We Do?
2
OVERVIEW
1. Who Experiences Poverty in the U.S.?2. What Difference Does Policy Make?3. What Can We Do?
3
1. Who Experiences Poverty in the U.S.?
4
Poverty is EverywhereA.Nearly All Are at Risk, but Generally Disadvantaged Groups Are at Greatest Risk
B.
Little Poverty is Driven by Individuals AloneC.
1. Who Experiences Poverty in the U.S.?
5
Poverty is EverywhereA.Nearly All Are at Risk, but Generally Disadvantaged Groups Are at Greatest Risk
B.
Little Poverty is Driven by Individuals AloneC.
SE & SW Have Highest Poverty Counties
1. Who Experiences Poverty in the U.S.?
6
Metro Counties Have Lower Official Poverty
1. Who Experiences Poverty in the U.S.?
7Source: USDA, Economic Research Service, using 2011-15 5-year estimates from U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey
1. Who Experiences Poverty in the U.S.?
8
Poverty is EverywhereA.Nearly All Are at Risk, but Generally Disadvantaged Groups Are at Greatest Risk
B.
Little Poverty is Driven by Individuals AloneC.
Source: Wonkblog, using Mark Rank’s analysis of PSID data9
Most of Us Experience Economic Hardship by
Age 35
1. Who Experiences Poverty in the U.S.?
Source: IRP, using data from U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey 10
African Americans & Latinos Face Highest Risks
of Poverty
1. Who Experiences Poverty in the U.S.?
1. Who Experiences Poverty in the U.S.?
11
Women of All Races Are More Likely than Men to
Be Poor
Source: IWPR, using data from U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey
Adult Poverty Rates by Gender and Race/Ethnicity, 2013
Children & Elderly Have Higher Poverty Rates
12
1. Who Experiences Poverty in the U.S.?
Source: IRP, using data from U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey
Poverty Rates for Total Population & by Age Group, 2015
1. Who Experiences Poverty in the U.S.?
13
Poverty is EverywhereA.Nearly All Are at Risk, but Generally Disadvantaged Groups Are at Greatest Risk
B.
Little Poverty is Driven by Individuals AloneC.
11.4%
2.0%
26.9%
76.0%
All persons All three One or two None
Po
vert
y R
ate
s
High School Graduate, Delayed Childbirth after Marriage, Employed Full-Time, 2007
14
1. Who Experiences Poverty in the U.S.? High School, Delayed Parenthood, & Full-Time
Work ↓ Poverty
Source: Ron Haskins and Belle Sawhill, Creating an Opportunity Society
0 Norms6.9%
1-3 Norms (or Disabled or Elderly)
93.1%
15
1. Who Experiences Poverty in the U.S.?
Social Norms Explain Very Little Poverty
Source: Author’s Calculations
Share of Total Poverty Population by Social Norms Adhered to, 2007
50%
42%
26%
Mother Continuously Marriedbetween Birth and 19th
Birthday
Mother Unmarried at Birth Mother Ever-Divorced
16
1. Who Experiences Poverty in the U.S.? Divorce May Make Exiting Poverty Harder Than Having
a Single Mom
Source: Pew Economic Mobility Project
Share of Children Moved From Lowest 1/3 to Highest 2/3 of Income Distribution as Adults
OVERVIEW
1. Who Experiences Poverty in the U.S.?2. What Difference Does Policy Make?3. What Can We Do?
17
2. What Difference Does Policy Make?
18
Economy is Major Driver of PovertyA.Strong Economic Security Programs PovertyB.
Meager, Inaccessible Programs PovertyC.Criminal Justice & Immigration Systems Perpetuate PovertyD.
2. What Difference Does Policy Make?
19
Economy is Major Driver of PovertyA.Strong Economic Security Programs PovertyB.
Meager, Inaccessible Programs PovertyC.Criminal Justice & Immigration Systems Perpetuate PovertyD.
Source: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities analysis of data from U.S. Census Bureau, National Bureau of Economic Research 20
2. What Difference Does Policy Make? Full Employment ↓ Poverty More Than Any
Other Strategy
$19.35/hr
NATIONAL HOUSING
WAGE:
$7.25/hr
FEDERAL MINIMUM
WAGE:
21
2. What Difference Does Policy Make? Low Minimum Wage Contributes to Poverty
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Pew Research Center Analysis
Federal Minimum Wage, 1938-2014
22
2. What Difference Does Policy Make? Unequal Pay Also Contributes to Poverty
Source: Institute for Women’s Policy Research calculations based on the Current Population Survey Annual Social & Economic supplements, 2014-2016, for calendar years 2013-2015; all in 2016 dollars
2. What Difference Does Policy Make?
23
Economy is Major Driver of PovertyA.Strong Economic Security Programs PovertyB.
Meager, Inaccessible Programs PovertyC.Criminal Justice & Immigration Systems Perpetuate PovertyD.
24
2. What Difference Does Policy Make? Tax & Transfer Programs Nearly Cut Poverty in
Half
Source: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities analysis of data from U.S. Census Bureau
Supplemental Poverty Rate, 2015
25
Giving Money to Poor Families Helps Kids in the
Long Run
2. What Difference Does Policy Make?
Source: Center and Budget and Policy Priorities analysis of research by Greg Duncan and Katherine Magnuson
Effect of $3,000 Annual Income Increase During Early Childhood (Ages 0-6) on Child’s Later Earnings
2. What Difference Does Policy Make?
26
Economy is Major Driver of PovertyA.Strong Economic Security Programs PovertyB.
Meager, Inaccessible Programs PovertyC.Criminal Justice & Immigration Systems Perpetuate PovertyD.
Guaranteed Benefits Work; Block Granting
Benefits Doesn’t
27
2. What Difference Does Policy Make?
Source: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Children Lifted Above 1/2 of Poverty Line by Means-Tested Benefits, Using SPM-Like Measure
Our Policies Leave Many Behind
2.1%2.4%
3%
2.6%
0
1
2
3
4
1995 2000 2005 2010
% C
hild
ren
Bel
ow
1/2
Po
vert
y Li
ne
From 1995 to 2010, the percentage of
children in deep poverty
grew
Source: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities28
2. What Difference Does Policy Make?
Children in Deep Poverty (Below 1/2 of Poverty Line), Counting Government Benefits & Adjusted for Underreporting of Benefits
2. What Difference Does Policy Make?
29
Economy is Major Driver of PovertyA.Strong Economic Security Programs PovertyB.
Meager, Inaccessible Programs PovertyC.Criminal Justice & Immigration Systems Perpetuate PovertyD.
2. What Difference Does Policy Make?
30
Mass Incarceration Creates Poverty
Source: National Academies
Prison & Jail Incarceration Rates, Ages 18-64, 1972-2010
2. What Difference Does Policy Make?
31
Lack of Legal Status & Path to Citizenship
Creates Poverty
Source: Center for American Progress
OVERVIEW
32
1. Who Experiences Poverty in the U.S.?2. What Difference Does Policy Make?3. What Can We Do?
3. What Can We Do?
33
Innovate, Evaluate, & ReplicateA.
Advocate for Sound Policy & Greater RevenuesB.
Change Views on Race & ImmigrationC.
3. What Can We Do?
34
Innovate, Evaluate, & ReplicateA.
Advocate for Sound Policy & Greater RevenuesB.
Change Views on Race & ImmigrationC.
Identify, Develop, & Test New Cross-Sector Service Delivery Approaches
• Treating Behavioral Health Challenges
• Helping Young Adults Pursue Careers
• Employing Formerly Incarcerated
• Caring for Elderly & People with Disabilities
• Housing as a Platform for Additional Services
35
3. What Can We Do? We Don’t Have All the Answers, & the World
Keeps Changing Regardless
3. What Can We Do?
36
Innovate, Evaluate, & ReplicateA.
Advocate for Sound Policy & Greater RevenuesB.
Change Views on Race & ImmigrationC.
I. CASH & HOUSINGChild AllowanceTANF/GAUI/Job Seekers AllowanceAffordable Housing
II. EMPLOYMENTJob CreationMinimum Wage/Pay EquityWage TheftFair Scheduling/Flexibility
III. FAMILY STRENGTHEarly Learning & CarePaid LeaveMedicaid/Health Care
IV. DEMOCRACYDecriminalization & De-carcerationImmigration ReformVoting Rights
3. What Can We Do? We Know What a Strong Foundation for Economic
Security Looks Like
37
38
3. What Can We Do? Our Economic Security System Requires More
Taxes
Source: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Spending & Revenue as Percent of GDP, 1995-2046
39
3. What Can We Do?
Source: Citizens for Tax Justice using OECD data, US data from Treasury & U.S. Census 2016
The United States is a Low-Tax Country
OECD Countries’ 2014 Taxes as % of GDP
40
3. What Can We Do?
Source: Economic Policy Institute
Most OECD Countries Drastically Reduce Their Poverty Rates Through Redistribution
Our Tax System Does Far Less to Reduce Poverty
Than Others’
3. What Can We Do?
41
Innovate, Evaluate, & ReplicateA.
Advocate for Sound Policy & Greater RevenuesB.
Change Views on Race & ImmigrationC.
3. What Can We Do? Animosity Toward People of Color/Immigrants Inhibits Strong Economic Security
System
Source: Figure 1: Salon. Figure 2: James C. Garand et al.42
CONCLUSION
43
1. Who Experiences Poverty in the U.S.?A. Poverty is EverywhereB. Nearly All Are at Risk, but Generally Disadvantaged Groups Are at
Greatest RiskC. Little Poverty is Driven by Individuals Alone
2. What Difference Does Policy Make?A. Economy is Major Driver of Poverty
B. Strong Economic Security Programs Poverty
C. Meager, Inaccessible Programs Poverty
D. Criminal Justice & Immigration Systems Perpetuate Poverty
3. What Can We Do?A. Innovate, Evaluate, & ReplicateB. Advocate for Sound Policy & Greater RevenuesC. Change Views on Race & Immigration
Indivar Dutta-Gupta | [email protected] | @IndivarD
Kali Grant | [email protected] | @KaliGrant
Casey Goldvale | [email protected] | @CGoldvale
@GtwnLawPovCntr
44
Prepared by
