What Causes Poverty?

On a sheet of paper, research and write your answers to the following questions:

1. Go to http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/poverty.html Under Current Poverty Data (yellow box in center of page) click on Detailed Tables from American Community Survey.  On the left side of page, click on People, in the tab choose Poverty.  Last choose Poverty Status for Individuals.

2. Analyze at least 5 statistical data sources to make inferences about correlations between education and poverty levels.  Write down the websites where you located your statistics. Write a few sentences about this data.  What conclusion have you come to based on education and poverty in the U.S.

3. Look at the �Poverty Guidelines� for different size families. http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/08poverty.shtml  Find the poverty threshold for a family of four.  What does this mean (in your own words)? 

4. Calculate the cost of living in your community for a family of four (2 adults, 2 children). http://www.epi.org/content.cfm/datazone_fambud_budget  http://www.aier.org/research/cost-of-living-calculator How much must each adult earn per hour, working full-time, 52 weeks/year to meet the cost of living in this community?

5. Now you have the freedom to research possible causes of poverty in your community. Be sure you are viewing reliable websites.  Please find and read at least one article that support.  Here are some websites you can start with:
http://www.irp.wisc.edu/
www.npc.umich.edu