What is the significance and limitations of the poverty line?

What will be an ideal response?


The poverty line is the way that the U. S. government defines those who are in poverty. It sets an income threshold that is necessary for purchasing basic necessities. Below that threshold, which varies by family size, people are considered to be in poverty. Criticisms of the poverty line center on what it fails to measure. It takes into account only pre-tax income and does not adjust for differences in cost of living from city to city or from state to state. For example, it is much more expensive to live in San Francisco, California, than in Ashland, Kentucky. It also does not take into account any assistance that poor families receive, such as food stamps. It was established in 1960 and has been updated yearly, accounting only for inflation.

Sociology

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In the United States, what percentage of the population aged twenty-five to sixty-four has a four-year college or university degree?

a. 12 percent b. 32 percent c. 52 percent d. 72 percent

Sociology

Roger, a father of 6 children, expressed shock to his fellow jurors that the psychiatrist declared the defendant, who had repeatedly plunged her three-year-old's hand in scalding water, mentally competent

Roger is operating under the common belief that (a) family violence is rare. (b) psychiatrists do not understand family violence. (c) only mentally ill or "sick" people abuse family members. (d) only fathers abuse their children.

Sociology

Like other immigrant groups, Middle Eastern immigrants _____

a. spoke primarily English upon their arrival b. formed ethnic enclaves c. have very high poverty rates d. were of higher classes than most Americans

Sociology

John is a son, friend, father, and teacher. These are all examples of John's ______.

A. roles B. personas C. statuses D. parts

Sociology