Opinion: Why even brilliant scholars misunderstand poverty in America
“One set of approaches gives a clear answer: Poverty has plummeted dramatically since the 1960s due to a huge increase in government spending on programs that help lower-income people. Another set of approaches suggests that poverty has, as Desmond insists, stagnated (and would have risen absent that government spending). Both these approaches have useful, distinct stories to tell us about poverty in America. One point they agree on, though, is that safety net programs like food stamps, Medicaid, Social Security, and the earned income tax credit have played an important role in reducing poverty. That is, Desmond’s core premise, that expanding safety net programs haven’t slashed poverty, is wrong. They have. You just need to measure poverty carefully.”