Listed below are several summary statements from the 2010 Census report:
The official poverty rate in 2010 was 15.1 per cent up from 14.3 per cent in 2009. This was the third consecutive annual increase in the poverty rate. Since 2007, the poverty rate has increased by 2.6 percentage points, from 12.5 per cent to 15.1 per cent.
In 2010, 46.2 million people were in poverty, up from 43.6 million in 2009 the fourth consecutive annual increase in the number of people.
Between 2009 and 2010, the poverty rate increased for non-Hispanic Whites (from 9.4 per cent to 9.9 per cent), for Blacks (from 25.8 per cent to 27.4 per cent), and Hispanics (from 25.3 per cent to 26.6 per cent). For Asians, the 2010 poverty rate (12.1 per cent) was not statistically different from the 2009 poverty rate.1
The poverty rate in 2010 (15.1 per cent) was the highest poverty rate since 1993 but was 7.3 percentage points lower than the poverty rate in 1959, the first year for which poverty estimates are available.
The number of people in poverty in 2010 (46.2 million) is the largest in the 52 years for which poverty estimates have been published.
Between 2009 and 2010, the poverty rate increased for children under age 18 (from 20.7 per cent to 22.0 per cent) and people aged 18 to 64 (from 12.9 per cent to 13.7 per cent) but was not statistically different for people aged 65 and older (9.0 per cent).2
Source: http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/data/incpovhlth/2010/highlights.html
Tasks:
Select any four of the six summary statements and explain in detail the significance and possible causes of each item.
Be sure to use the economic concepts and policies discussed in your textbook where applicable.
Identify possible economic policies that may explain these items and/or those which could be used to deal with the problems or situations described.
Listed below are several summary statements from the 2010 Census report:
The official poverty rate in 2010 was 15.1 per cent up from 14.3 per cent in 2009. This was the third consecutive annual increase in the poverty rate. Since 2007, the poverty rate has increased by 2.6 percentage points, from 12.5 per cent to 15.1 per cent.
In 2010, 46.2 million people were in poverty, up from 43.6 million in 2009 the fourth consecutive annual increase in the number of people.
Between 2009 and 2010, the poverty rate increased for non-Hispanic Whites (from 9.4 per cent to 9.9 per cent), for Blacks (from 25.8 per cent to 27.4 per cent), and Hispanics (from 25.3 per cent to 26.6 per cent). For Asians, the 2010 poverty rate (12.1 per cent) was not statistically different from the 2009 poverty rate.1
The poverty rate in 2010 (15.1 per cent) was the highest poverty rate since 1993 but was 7.3 percentage points lower than the poverty rate in 1959, the first year for which poverty estimates are available.
The number of people in poverty in 2010 (46.2 million) is the largest in the 52 years for which poverty estimates have been published.
Between 2009 and 2010, the poverty rate increased for children under age 18 (from 20.7 per cent to 22.0 per cent) and people aged 18 to 64 (from 12.9 per cent to 13.7 per cent) but was not statistically different for people aged 65 and older (9.0 per cent).2
Source: http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/data/incpovhlth/2010/highlights.html
Tasks:
Select any four of the six summary statements and explain in detail the significance and possible causes of each item.
Be sure to use the economic concepts and policies discussed in your textbook where applicable.
Identify possible economic policies that may explain these items and/or those which could be used to deal with the problems or situations described.
