Comments on: U.S. Poverty Rate Down Significantly

By: Hal

Hal — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 23:33:46 +0000

So let me get this straight, Verdon's post title says U.S. Poverty Rate Down Significantly, but he has to correct his post to note that it only fell by a statistically insignificant 0.3% and doesn't even update the post title?

Yes, what a fine economist you make Steve.

Yi.

By: spencer

spencer — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 20:35:40 +0000

Steve I'm sure that someone with your background is well aware that when the Census Bureau uses the term statistically insignificant they are using it in its exact mathematical meaning.

Do you really believe it is being completely honest to pretend not to know this?

By: madmatt

madmatt — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 13:17:38 +0000

See what 6 years of republican control gets you...more poor and uninsured people...I see a new bumber sticker!

By: Tim Worstall

Tim Worstall — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 12:45:26 +0000

More importantly Dave, is that what is being measured is the number in poverty "before" any help they receive from the Govt. It does not include the effects of the EITC, of housing, of food stamps: it only includes direct cash transfers.

It's a terrible measure actually, one that no other OECD country uses.

By: Dave Schuler

Dave Schuler — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 00:27:17 +0000

I wonder what proportion of those 18-64 at or below the poverty level are immigrants.

By: Dave Schuler

Dave Schuler — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 00:24:53 +0000

Something that's missing from the linked article that would be pretty helpful in understanding it is a description of how the official poverty rate is calculated. While, theoretically, it's an absolute measure practically speaking it ain't necessarily so because the definition of what constitutes the necessities of living for the purposes of the calculation have changed over time.

By: Triumph

Triumph — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 00:17:47 +0000

The numbers get a bit more interesting when you look at the age breakdowns.

The real significant decline was in the over-65 set. For the working stiffs (18-64) the poverty level was higher and the median income lower than in 2001.

The census also reported today an increase of 2.2 million uninsured people over the last year.