Description
Confronting Poverty is a text that introduces students to the dynamics of poverty and economic hardship in the U.S. It address four fundamental question: 1) What is the nature, prevalence, and characteristics of poverty; 2) Why does poverty exist; 3) What are the effects and consequences of poverty upon individuals and the wider society; and 4) How can poverty be reduced and alleviated?
In clear and engaging writing, Confronting Poverty provides students with the most up-to-date research and thinking regarding American poverty and inequality. It includes the many insights of the author’s 30 years of writing and teaching on the subject. It is designed to be used as either a primary or secondary text in a wide range of courses across academic disciplines.
In addition, Confronting Poverty makes use of an innovative companion website developed by the author. The focal point of the website is an interactive tool, called the Poverty Risk Calculator, that has been constructed with hundreds of thousands of case records extracted from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) data set. The website also includes a discussion guide on various aspects of poverty along with many other interactive links and activities (short documentary films, video interviews and lectures, interactive data sources, research briefs, magazine and newspaper articles). Each chapter includes an on-line activity from the companion website for students to engage in, resulting in a dynamic learning experience.
Table of Contents
Part I: Nature, Extent, and Characteristics of Poverty
Chapter 1: Defining and Measuring
Chapter 2: Patterns and Dynamics
Chapter 3: The Face of Poverty
Part II: Reasons for Poverty
Chapter 4: Individual and Cultural Level Explanations
Chapter 5: Structural Level Explanations
Chapter 6: Putting It Together – Structural Vulnerability
Part III: Effects and Consequences of Poverty
Chapter 7: Individuals and Families
Chapter 8: Communities
Chapter 9: The Nation
Part IV: Addressing and Alleviating Poverty
Chapter 10: Strengthening the Social Safety Net
Chapter 11: Increasing Access to Key Public Goods and Services
Chapter 12: Supporting All Families
Chapter 13: Employment and Universal Basic Income Policies
Chapter 14: Organizing for Social Change
Chapter 15: Conclusion – Confronting Poverty by Empowerment
