Leading Causes Of Poverty In America

Leading causes of poverty in america

Leave a Comment Poverty in its most broad definition is a condition where people live without adequate amounts of basic necessities such as food, clothing, and housing. The U. By that definition, there are around 38 million people in poverty in the United States.

So, what are the main causes of poverty in the United States? There are no easy answers, and many of them are fiercely debated, but here are a few of the main causes.

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Changes in the Labor Market Many of the higher-paying manufacturing and labor jobs of the past have since been outsourced. Replacing them are service industry jobs with lower pay and no or little benefits. To an unskilled worker without a college degree this can be a scenario that lands them in poverty. Tied into this are the instability of these lower-paying positions.

Many of them can be seasonal in nature, and when economies slow down or head into a recession these jobs are often the first to be cut. Education Formal education beyond high school is becoming more expensive every year. The increase in tuition rates is far outpacing inflation and the price increases of other goods and services. This makes school out of reach for many people. Even with aid and grants, the costs are still overwhelming. Also, working in a low-level retail or service job the schedules are often not steady and are inflexible. This makes taking classes near impossible for many.

Housing As with education, the cost of housing in America is on the rise. Many are well below this leading causes of poverty in america forcing them into less than ideal housing in less than ideal areas.

Homeownership also remains out of reach as often a minimum credit score and a substantial down payment are required. Substance Abuse Issues Drug and alcohol abuse can totally consume someone who is addicted to them, and often any money that they are able to earn will pay to sustain their habit.

This causes lost opportunity to save or move up to a better living situation or career. In extreme cases, people can lose their jobs due to missing time or breaking rules of employment. Health problems and medical bills will also no doubt come into leading causes of poverty in america at some point. Obviously not all low wage earners have an addiction to substances, but the ones who do magnify an already stressful circumstance.

It can be argued as to why low earners develop drug and alcohol addictions. Some of it could be attributed to where these people are forced to live. Less desirable areas often have issues with drugs and crime and will no doubt influence people who live in the middle of it. Medical Expenses We all know how expensive medical expenses can be.

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Even with insurance a medical procedure can still result in thousands of dollars out of pocket. To someone with no or little insurance, a medical procedure can spell financial ruin. A minimum-wage worker has no chance of paying back a six-figure medical bill. This can leave people with untreated medical conditions which in the long run can make them sicker or even shorten their lifespan. Final Thoughts There are countless reasons why someone can be in poverty, and leading causes of poverty in america are endless arguments of how to lift people out of poverty or prevent them from being in that situation in the first place. I gave 5 of the main causes of poverty in the United States.]

Leading causes of poverty in america - can

Limited capacity of the government. What causes structural? Cited examples of structural causes include trends in unemployment and poverty, the housing market, the structure of the economy generally, and large-scale social policies. Examples given of individual causes include mental illness, alcoholism, substance abuse, and lack of a work ethic. What are effects of poverty? What are the features of poverty? Meanwhile, the characteristics of poverty are: 1 most of them are living in rural areas; 2 their family size are bigger than the average; 3 their main source of income is agricultural sector; 4 lack of resources; 5 low quality of human resource; 6 low income; 7 most of income is used for basic needs; 8 … What is poverty and types of poverty? What is Poverty and its types. Poverty is an economic state where people are experiencing scarcity or the lack of certain commodities that are required for the lives of human beings like money and material things. leading causes of poverty in america