Individual Strategies

With respect to the first question, one thing that is absolutely clear from the research is that those with greater human capital (e.g., education, skills, training, etc.) tend to be more competitive in the labor market, and as a result, will run a lower risk of experiencing poverty. As we discussed in Module 5, this helps to explain why the five factors in the poverty risk calculator are so important. Individuals possessing more education, skills, and training are typically more competitive when it comes to landing higher paying jobs. Consequently, one way to reduce your individual chances of experiencing poverty is to increase your amount of human capital. By doing so, you will make yourself more attractive to employers, resulting in a reduced risk of unemployment or working at a lower paying job, which in turn results in a lower probability of poverty.

A second individual way for individuals to cope with poverty is by being financially prepared when economic shocks occur. As we have discussed in previous modules, during a prolonged stretch of time any number of economic ups and downs may occur to individuals and families. It is quite likely that at some point you may experience one or more of these setbacks. These could include losing a job, families splitting up, health emergencies, or other events that can lead to economic turmoil. When economic insecurity strikes, do you have enough savings and accumulated economic assets to carry you through such difficult times?

It turns out that many of us have had difficulty with respect to our savings behavior. For example, a recent study from the Federal Reserve found that 37 percent of Americans did not have enough money saved to cover a 400 dollar emergency expense. Other research has shown that a majority of the population do not have enough liquid assets to keep them above the poverty line for three months should they lose their main source of income.

Consequently, saving a portion of your paycheck can become an important insurance strategy for dealing with that rainy day. Putting aside a set amount of income each month results in some degree of economic security should the need arise.

Policy Strategies

A second way to think about alleviating poverty is to examine what can be done on a policy level to reduce the number of households that are poor.  To go back to our earlier musical chairs analogy (Module 6), how can we restructure the game such that there are more opportunities and supports for those who are playing the game?

There are at least four broad strategies that can be employed to reduce poverty on a national, state, and local level.  First, there is a need to create enough adequately paying jobs that can support individuals and families above the poverty line.  This includes initiatives such as raising the minimum wage to a living wage, increasing the Earned Income Tax Credit, and stimulating the creation of good quality jobs.

Second, it is important to increase the accessibility of key social and public goods. These include quality education (both at the primary and secondary level, as well as at the post-secondary level), health care, affordable housing, and child care.

Third, policies that encourage the building of assets, particularly for those of modest means, is vital. Likewise, building the assets and resources of lower income communities is important.

Finally, providing a strong and effective social safety net is critical in addressing poverty on a national, state, or local level. This would include a range of programs and supports designed to allow families to get back on their feet when economic turmoil strikes.

Can you think of other policies and strategies that would be effective in reducing the overall U.S. rates of poverty? What about individual behaviors and actions that might reduce the risk of poverty?