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Confronting Poverty
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Confronting Poverty
Economic Hardship in the United States



December 2020 | 216 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc

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.


 
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

Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter 1

Chapter 2


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