Commentaries and Research

Extensive research examining the current measure and alternative proposals has been published over the years. In this section, Spotlight gathers key commentary, research, and exclusive webcasts featuring leading experts and lawmakers to explore how the United States can improve the federal poverty measure.

To read the latest commentary, click here.

To read the latest research, click here.

To watch Spotlight webcasts on the poverty measure, click here.

FEATURED COMMENTARY

To Address Poverty, We Should Add Assets to the Equation
By Reid Cramer, director of the Asset Building Program at the New America Foundation

In the latest installment of Spotlight’s “Poor Measurement” commentary series, contributor Reid Cramer argues that measuring household savings and assets must be a key component of any new poverty measure. According to Cramer, the current poverty measure fails to consider how assets affect a family’s ability to make ends meet. The author suggests that to adequately gauge poverty in America, an updated federal poverty measure must also calculate household savings and assets over time.


FEATURED REPORT

The CEO Poverty Measure, 2005--2008
By Mark Levitan, Christine D'Onofrio, John Krampner, Daniel Scheer and Todd Seidel, New York City Center for Economic Opportunity, March 2010

A new working paper from the New York City Center for Economic Opportunity examines how the city’s poverty rate has changed from 2005 to 2008. CEO’s poverty measure is based on recommendations from the National Academy of Sciences and provides a more accurate picture of poverty in New York City than the current federal poverty measure. With its earlier report, released August 2008, CEO became the first municipality to implement the Academy’s recommendations.