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In-Work Poverty in the United States

Author

Listed:
  • Kenworthy, Lane

    (University of California, San Diego)

  • Marx, Ive

    (University of Antwerp)

Abstract

In-work poverty became a prominent policy issue in the United States long before the term itself acquired any meaning and relevance in other industrialized countries. With America's embrace of an employment-centered antipoverty strategy, the working poor have become even more of an issue. This paper reviews some key trends, drivers and policy issues. How much in-work poverty is there in the United States? How does the US compare to other rich democracies? Has America's in-work poverty rate changed over time? Who are the in-work poor? What are the main drivers of levels and changes in in-work poverty? Finally, what are the prospects for America's working poor going forward?

Suggested Citation

  • Kenworthy, Lane & Marx, Ive, 2017. "In-Work Poverty in the United States," IZA Discussion Papers 10638, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp10638
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Neil Lee & Andrés Rodríguez-Pose, 2021. "Entrepreneurship and the fight against poverty in US cities," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 53(1), pages 31-52, February.
    2. Zachary Van Winkle & Emanuela Struffolino, 2018. "When working isn’t enough: Family demographic processes and in-work poverty across the life course in the United States," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 39(12), pages 365-380.
    3. Struffolino, Emanuela & Van Winkle, Zachary, 2019. "Is there only one way out of in-work poverty? Difference by gender and race in the US," Discussion Papers, Research Group Demography and Inequality SP I 2019-601, WZB Berlin Social Science Center.
    4. Van Winkle, Zachary & Struffolino, Emanuela, 2018. "When working isn’t enough: Family demographic processes and in-work poverty across the life course in the United States," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 39, pages 365-380.
    5. Antonia Asenjo & Verónica Escudero & Hannah Liepmann, 2024. "Why Should we Integrate Income and Employment Support? A Conceptual and Empirical Investigation," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 60(1), pages 1-29, January.
    6. Sophie Moullin & Susan Harkness, 2021. "The Single Motherhood Penalty as a Gender Penalty," LIS Working papers 817, LIS Cross-National Data Center in Luxembourg.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    wages; employment; poverty; United States;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I3 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty

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