Measuring poverty is complex, requiring extensive research and a number of expert judgments on how to define resources and needs, as well as the data infrastructure necessary to operationalize measurement. In this paper, we briefly summarize the evolution of poverty measurement in the United States and discuss the recommended changes to the Supplemental Poverty Measure from a recently concluded National Academies panel. Emphasis is placed on the treatment of medical care, childcare, and housing, as well as the need to incorporate administrative data records with survey data.
Research
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DP2024-05.pdf