How Poverty in the United States Is Measured and Why It Matters

Copyright

2022

Published By

Population Reference Bureau

This resource discusses how the official poverty measure is calculated in the United States and how this measurement is flawed. Ways of improving this measurement by including the costs of basic needs like housing, clothing, and transportation are also proposed. Other topics discussed include state-specific poverty measures, how poverty data are collected, and how the coronavirus pandemic has affected the measurement of poverty.