The Myth of the Poverty Trap
(theatlantic.com)
We know how to end extreme poverty. Why haven’t we done it?
We know how to end extreme poverty. Why haven’t we done it?
The Tragic Story Behind the Infamous '4 Children for Sale' Photograph (2023)
(allthatsinteresting.com)
In one of perhaps the most distressing and shocking images ever captured of 20th-century America, a young mother hides her head in shame as her four children huddle together, perplexed looks on their faces. At the forefront of the photo, in large, bold letters, a sign reads, “4 Children For Sale, Inquire Within.”
In one of perhaps the most distressing and shocking images ever captured of 20th-century America, a young mother hides her head in shame as her four children huddle together, perplexed looks on their faces. At the forefront of the photo, in large, bold letters, a sign reads, “4 Children For Sale, Inquire Within.”
The federal minimum wage is officially a poverty wage in 2025
(epi.org)
In 2025, the federal minimum wage is officially a “poverty wage.” The annual earnings of a single adult working full-time, year-round at $7.25 an hour now fall below the poverty threshold of $15,650 (established by the Department of Health and Human Services guidelines). The limitations of how the federal government calculates poverty understate how far the minimum wage is from economic security for workers and their families.
In 2025, the federal minimum wage is officially a “poverty wage.” The annual earnings of a single adult working full-time, year-round at $7.25 an hour now fall below the poverty threshold of $15,650 (established by the Department of Health and Human Services guidelines). The limitations of how the federal government calculates poverty understate how far the minimum wage is from economic security for workers and their families.
Christianity was always for the poor (2024)
(jacobin.com)
From the Sermon on the Mount through the Apostolic Age, the first Christians preached against wealth.
From the Sermon on the Mount through the Apostolic Age, the first Christians preached against wealth.
New Mexico made childcare free. It lifted 120k people out of poverty
(theguardian.com)
The state, which has long ranked worst in the US for child wellbeing, became the first and only in the country to offer free childcare to a majority of families
The state, which has long ranked worst in the US for child wellbeing, became the first and only in the country to offer free childcare to a majority of families
Javier Milei's Free Market Reforms Are Starting to Pay Off
(reason.com)
Argentina's poverty rate fell sharply in the second half of 2024, according to official data released this week, marking a major milestone for President Javier Milei's sweeping economic reforms.
Argentina's poverty rate fell sharply in the second half of 2024, according to official data released this week, marking a major milestone for President Javier Milei's sweeping economic reforms.
Average person will be 40% poorer if world warms by 4C, new research shows
(theguardian.com)
Economic models have systematically underestimated how global heating will affect people’s wealth, according to a new study that finds 4C warming will make the average person 40% poorer – an almost four-fold increase on some estimates.
Economic models have systematically underestimated how global heating will affect people’s wealth, according to a new study that finds 4C warming will make the average person 40% poorer – an almost four-fold increase on some estimates.
In Jail Without a Lawyer: How a Texas Town Fails Poor Defendants
(nytimes.com)
People in Maverick County spend months in jail waiting to be charged with minor crimes. Some are simply lost in the system.
People in Maverick County spend months in jail waiting to be charged with minor crimes. Some are simply lost in the system.
Extreme poverty in India has dropped to negligible levels
(economist.com)
Thirty years ago Siddharth Dube, a writer, visited a small village in northern India near the site of a historic peasants’ revolt. He found plenty that remained enraging: mud huts, primitive ploughs, “barefoot old men” and “bone-thin children”. One older villager, Ram Dass, recalled the bitter deprivation of his younger years, when he would work long days on someone else’s land for the meagre reward of 1.5kg of grain.
Thirty years ago Siddharth Dube, a writer, visited a small village in northern India near the site of a historic peasants’ revolt. He found plenty that remained enraging: mud huts, primitive ploughs, “barefoot old men” and “bone-thin children”. One older villager, Ram Dass, recalled the bitter deprivation of his younger years, when he would work long days on someone else’s land for the meagre reward of 1.5kg of grain.
India: A billion people have no real money to spend, says report
(bbc.com)
India is home to 1.4 billion people but around a billion lack money to spend on any discretionary goods or services, a new report estimates.
India is home to 1.4 billion people but around a billion lack money to spend on any discretionary goods or services, a new report estimates.
Infrastructure neglect and poverty lead to parasites in the Mississippi Delta
(theguardian.com)
New research suggests parasitic infections in US south are far more widespread than previously acknowledged
New research suggests parasitic infections in US south are far more widespread than previously acknowledged
Why Northern England is poor
(tomforth.co.uk)
Buying an old and neglected house in Leeds and working on its renovation for two years has increased and broadened my podcast listening. A series that has provided the soundtrack to stripping the stairs and priming the window frames has been Conversations with Tyler.
Buying an old and neglected house in Leeds and working on its renovation for two years has increased and broadened my podcast listening. A series that has provided the soundtrack to stripping the stairs and priming the window frames has been Conversations with Tyler.
Connecticut DMV Allows Tow Companies to Sell People's Cars
(propublica.org)
A law intended to deal with abandoned vehicles is making it hard for low-income people to get their cars back after they’re towed. The consequences can extend far beyond the cost of the car.
A law intended to deal with abandoned vehicles is making it hard for low-income people to get their cars back after they’re towed. The consequences can extend far beyond the cost of the car.
TB rates plunge when families living in poverty get a monthly cash payout
(npr.org)
What if the best medicine isn't a pill or vaccine — but it's cold cash?
What if the best medicine isn't a pill or vaccine — but it's cold cash?
'Living proof that you can spend money on the poor': Utopia comes to Mexico City
(theguardian.com)
A visionary mayor has harnessed her imagination to promote health, wellbeing and culture in one of the Mexican capital’s most impoverished neighbourhoods
A visionary mayor has harnessed her imagination to promote health, wellbeing and culture in one of the Mexican capital’s most impoverished neighbourhoods
New research suggests that Walmart makes the communities it operates in poorer
(theatlantic.com)
New research suggests that the company makes the communities it operates in poorer—even taking into account its famous low prices.
New research suggests that the company makes the communities it operates in poorer—even taking into account its famous low prices.
A federal policy change in the 1980s created the modern food desert
(theatlantic.com)
The concept of the food desert has been around long enough that it feels almost like a fact of nature. Tens of millions of Americans live in low-income communities with no easy access to fresh groceries, and the general consensus is that these places just don’t have what it takes to attract and sustain a supermarket. They’re either too poor or too sparsely populated to generate sufficient spending on groceries, or they can’t overcome a racist pattern of corporate redlining.
The concept of the food desert has been around long enough that it feels almost like a fact of nature. Tens of millions of Americans live in low-income communities with no easy access to fresh groceries, and the general consensus is that these places just don’t have what it takes to attract and sustain a supermarket. They’re either too poor or too sparsely populated to generate sufficient spending on groceries, or they can’t overcome a racist pattern of corporate redlining.
Homeless people to be given cash in first major UK trial to reduce poverty
(theguardian.com)
Researchers are conducting the UK’s first major scientific trials to establish whether giving homeless people cash is a more effective way of reducing poverty than traditional forms of help.
Researchers are conducting the UK’s first major scientific trials to establish whether giving homeless people cash is a more effective way of reducing poverty than traditional forms of help.
Was the global decline of extreme poverty only due to China? – Our World in Data
(ourworldindata.org)
The share of the world population living in extreme poverty has never declined as rapidly as in the past three decades.
The share of the world population living in extreme poverty has never declined as rapidly as in the past three decades.
What if you can't afford to flee a hurricane?
(vox.com)
Even when a life-threatening hurricane is headed your way, there are many reasons why you might stay put. You might have dependent family members who can’t leave due to disabilities or other health-related reasons; you might not have reliable transportation to get to a safer area, and what’s more, no gas to get there. Sometimes, you simply refuse to leave your home and everything you own behind.
Even when a life-threatening hurricane is headed your way, there are many reasons why you might stay put. You might have dependent family members who can’t leave due to disabilities or other health-related reasons; you might not have reliable transportation to get to a safer area, and what’s more, no gas to get there. Sometimes, you simply refuse to leave your home and everything you own behind.
America keeps choosing poverty – but it doesn't have to
(vox.com)
America has gone through many ups and downs since the civil rights era, but one thing has remained remarkably constant: In 1970, 12.6 percent of Americans were considered poor; in 2023, that number was 11.1 percent — or 36.8 million people. “To graph the share of Americans living in poverty over the past half-century amounts to drawing a line that resembles gently rolling hills,” the sociologist Matthew Desmond wrote last year.
America has gone through many ups and downs since the civil rights era, but one thing has remained remarkably constant: In 1970, 12.6 percent of Americans were considered poor; in 2023, that number was 11.1 percent — or 36.8 million people. “To graph the share of Americans living in poverty over the past half-century amounts to drawing a line that resembles gently rolling hills,” the sociologist Matthew Desmond wrote last year.
L.A. pilot guaranteeing families $1k/month shows 'transformative' results: study
(latimes.com)
Some of L.A.’s poorest families received cash assistance of $1,000 a month as part of a 12-month pilot project launched nearly three years ago. There were no strings attached and they could use the money however they saw fit.
Some of L.A.’s poorest families received cash assistance of $1,000 a month as part of a 12-month pilot project launched nearly three years ago. There were no strings attached and they could use the money however they saw fit.
Poverty in Argentina soars to over 50% as Milei's austerity measures hit hard
(theguardian.com)
Argentina’s poverty rate has soared to almost 53% in the first six months of Javier Milei’s presidency, offering the first hard evidence of the far-right libertarian’s tough austerity measures are hitting the population.
Argentina’s poverty rate has soared to almost 53% in the first six months of Javier Milei’s presidency, offering the first hard evidence of the far-right libertarian’s tough austerity measures are hitting the population.
Argentina's poverty rate soars above 50% under Javier Milei
(ft.com)
Argentina’s poverty rate soars above 50% under Javier Milei
Argentina’s poverty rate soars above 50% under Javier Milei
In defense of the washing machine
(vox.com)
Rich people debate washing machines for fun. But for billions of poor people, the debate really matters.
Rich people debate washing machines for fun. But for billions of poor people, the debate really matters.
Being Raised by the Internet
(jimmyhmiller.github.io)
I grew up relatively poor. I was fortunate enough to have a roof over my head, clean water, electricity, a computer, internet, and cable tv. But food was often harder to come by. This may seem like a contradiction, but when your mom has left to marry her uncle and your dad has schizophrenia, you aren’t really in charge of how the money is spent.
I grew up relatively poor. I was fortunate enough to have a roof over my head, clean water, electricity, a computer, internet, and cable tv. But food was often harder to come by. This may seem like a contradiction, but when your mom has left to marry her uncle and your dad has schizophrenia, you aren’t really in charge of how the money is spent.
Being Raised by the Internet
(jimmyhmiller.github.io)
I grew up relatively poor. I was fortunate enough to have a roof over my head, clean water, electricity, a computer, internet, and cable tv. But food was often harder to come by. This may seem like a contradiction, but when your mom has left to marry her uncle and your dad has schizophrenia, you aren’t really in charge of how the money is spent.
I grew up relatively poor. I was fortunate enough to have a roof over my head, clean water, electricity, a computer, internet, and cable tv. But food was often harder to come by. This may seem like a contradiction, but when your mom has left to marry her uncle and your dad has schizophrenia, you aren’t really in charge of how the money is spent.