A Qualitative Census of Rural and Urban Poverty. Issue 1 (July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Alexander, J. Trent; Andersen, Robert; Cookson, Peter W.; Edin, Kathryn; Fisher, Jonathan; Grusky, David B.; Mattingly, Marybeth; Varner, Charles
• Other Names: Lichter Daniel T. guest-editor.; Ziliak James P. guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. Volume 672:Issue 1(2017:Jul.)
• Page Start: 143
• Page End: 161
• Publication Date: 2017-07
• Subjects: poverty -- qualitative research -- everyday life -- census; Social sciences -- Periodicals; Social sciences -- United States -- Periodicals; Political science -- Periodicals; United States -- Politics and government -- Periodicals; 300
• DOI: 10.1177/0002716217714156
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0002-7162

Abstract

If we want to build authentic evidence-based policy, we need a strong descriptive foundation of evidence on the everyday experience of poverty. The National Poverty Study (NPS), which is currently in development, provides this foundation with a new "qualitative census" of the everyday conditions of poverty in rural, suburban, and urban sites. The NPS will allow us to build new evidence-based theories of poverty, evaluate and improve existing place-based antipoverty policies, validate official poverty measures, and assist local communities in improving the safety net for vulnerable populations.