Report

This report looks at the results of implementing a poverty measure for Minnesota using the American Community Survey (ACS) – including the benefits, challenges and implications of this poverty benchmark. The report further describes the potential effects of alternative safety-net policies on poverty.

March 1, 2010

In This Report, You’ll Learn

  1. 1

    A description of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) poverty measure.

  2. 2

    How the NAS poverty measure is implemented.

  3. 3

    Results of the NAS poverty measure for Minnesota.

  4. 4

    Key features of the American Community Survey (ACS), compared to the Current Population Survey (CPS).

  1. 5

    The benefits and challenges of implementing the NAS poverty measure using the ACS.

  2. 6

    How to estimate the effects of alternative policies on poverty.

Key Takeaway

Improving poverty measurement and policies

While most states agree that a benchmark is needed to track progress in reducing poverty, the official measure of poverty used in the United States – based only on cash income and a 1950s-era national measure of need – doesn’t suffice. What’s needed is a poverty measurement using the American Community Survey to help inform and test the results of poverty reductions policies. 

Findings & Stats

Statements & Quotations

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