Poverty, by America audiobook cover - Discover the Shocking Truth with This New York Times Bestseller

Poverty, by America

Discover the Shocking Truth with This New York Times Bestseller

Matthew Desmond

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Corporate CultureSociety & CulturePolitics

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Poverty, by America
The Poverty Paradox+
Worker Exploitation+
Consumer Exploitation+
Imbalanced Safety Net+
Invisible Segregation+
Individual Action+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 7
What is the central paradox of poverty in the United States highlighted in the text?
  • A. The US has the highest poverty rate in the world despite having the lowest unemployment rate.
  • B. Poverty rates have skyrocketed since 1970 despite massive technological advancements.
  • C. People continue to experience poverty despite the US possessing colossal, unmatched economic wealth.
  • D. The government spends almost nothing on welfare despite collecting trillions in tax revenue.
Question 2 of 7
According to the text, why do corporations frequently utilize temp agencies and independent contractors?
  • A. To comply with federal regulations regarding workforce diversity.
  • B. To reduce their obligations to workers and increase cost savings by avoiding benefits and minimum wage laws.
  • C. To encourage sectoral bargaining and union representation among their workforce.
  • D. To provide low-income workers with more flexible schedules and higher hourly rates.
Question 3 of 7
What surprising insight does the text reveal about the rental housing market in impoverished neighborhoods?
  • A. Landlords in poor neighborhoods can yield around double the profits compared to their counterparts in affluent areas.
  • B. Rent prices in poor neighborhoods have decreased over the last two decades due to government subsidies.
  • C. Properties in poverty-stricken areas are generally newer and better maintained than those in middle-class suburbs.
  • D. Landlords in poor areas frequently convert their properties into tenant-owned cooperatives to avoid high taxes.
Question 4 of 7
How does the author suggest solving the problem of exploitative fringe institutions like payday lenders?
  • A. By completely banning all short-term lending institutions nationwide.
  • B. By forcing poor communities to rely exclusively on credit cards.
  • C. By providing the poor with more credit alternatives, such as small-dollar loans from the US Postal Service.
  • D. By capping the amount of money a low-income worker is allowed to borrow annually.
Question 5 of 7
What is a major flaw in the current US federal welfare and tax system highlighted in the text?
  • A. The US spends less per capita on antipoverty initiatives than any other developed nation.
  • B. Federal welfare programs and tax breaks often disproportionately benefit the upper classes rather than the poor.
  • C. The application process for government aid is so streamlined that it encourages widespread fraud.
  • D. The poorest Americans are completely exempt from paying any form of taxes, causing a massive deficit.
Question 6 of 7
How do exclusionary zoning laws perpetuate poverty and segregation?
  • A. They mandate that low-income housing must be built exclusively in industrial zones.
  • B. They prohibit businesses from paying the minimum wage in certain affluent neighborhoods.
  • C. They prevent the construction of specific property types, like apartment complexes, effectively keeping poor people out of prosperous communities.
  • D. They force low-income individuals to purchase homes rather than rent apartments.
Question 7 of 7
What is one way the text suggests ordinary individuals can participate in the fight against poverty?
  • A. By moving out of integrated neighborhoods to lower property taxes.
  • B. By exclusively shopping at discount stores to save money for charitable donations.
  • C. By consciously choosing to invest in and buy from businesses that prioritize and treat their employees well.
  • D. By refusing to pay local taxes until poverty is completely eradicated.

Poverty, by America — Full Chapter Overview

Poverty, by America Summary & Overview

Poverty, by America (2023) delves into the paradoxical issue of poverty in the abundant country of the United States. It explores potential solutions to this pervasive issue, based on extensive research.

Who Should Listen to Poverty, by America?

  • Poverty abolitionists
  • Lawmakers
  • Corporate leaders and shareholders

About the Author: Matthew Desmond

Matthew Desmond is a sociology professor at Princeton University. He is also the author of the award-winning and New York Times bestseller Evicted (2016). 

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