Poverty in America—and What to Do about It

Fifty years after the War on Poverty began, nearly 50 million Americans are still living in poverty. Low-income Americans increasingly confront the compounding challenges of material deprivation, low levels of upward mobility, and social isolation. It is critical to have an approach that acknowledges the complex reality of those in poverty and offers solutions that help vulnerable Americans flourish.

Poverty in America is a compilation of AEI scholars’ thinking on why fighting for the poor is a moral imperative; what demands special attention in the debate; and which policy proposals could enable the labor market, social safety net, and broader society to provide low-income Americans a better shot at success.