Department Chair
Theodore F. Byrley, Ph.D., Chair and Associate Professor of Economics & Finance
Date of Award
5-2015
Access Control
Open Access
Degree Name
Applied Economics, M.A.
Department
Economics and Finance Department
Advisor
Theodore F. Byrley, Ph.D., Chair and Associate Professor of Economics & Finance
Department Home page
http://economics.buffalostate.edu/
First Reader
Theodore F. Byrley, Ph.D., Chair and Associate Professor of Economics & Finance
Second Reader
Frederick Floss, Ph.D., Professor of Economics & Finance
Third Reader
Curtis Haynes Jr., Ph.D., Associate Professor of Economics & Finance
Abstract
The definition of poverty is a social construct. As such, quantitatively measuring poverty is problematic, and creates ineffective poverty-alleviation policy. This thesis examines the historical measure of poverty in the United States, compares U.S. poverty measurements to Great Britain and Canada, and then proposes a new way to measure poverty. Instead of measuring income as the defining factor of poverty, the new poverty measurement suggested eliminates income factors and focuses on a household’s ability to consume in a non-comparative manner. When quantifying a household’s ability to consume, implications arise in economic policy for anti-poverty programs, defining the middle class, minimum wage, and progressive taxation, which are discussed.
Recommended Citation
Ashelman, David, "A New Approach to Measuring Poverty in the United States: A Household's Ability to Consume" (2015). Applied Economics Theses. 11.
https://digitalcommons.buffalostate.edu/economics_theses/11
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