Measuring Concentrated Poverty in a Global Metropolis: Lessons from Los Angeles

The traditional definition of concentrated poverty-40 percent of a census tract population living below the federal poverty threshold-is problematic in light of burgeoning working poor populations, increasing inner-suburban poverty, and problems with the federal poverty threshold itself. This articl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Professional geographer 2008-02, Vol.60 (1), p.70-86
Main Authors: Sessoms, Nathan J., Wolch, Jennifer R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
40 percent threshold
40％的门槛
America
Bgi / Prodig
Built environment
California
concentrated poverty
Economic geography
Geodemographics
Inner city
Los Angeles
Measurement
Metropolis
Neighbourhoods
Pacific
pobreza concentrada
Poverty
Social environment
Statistical analysis
Stereotypes
subclase urbana
Suburban areas
U.S.A
umbral del 40 por ciento
United States of America
Urban areas
Urban sociology
urban underclass
城市下层阶级
洛杉矶
集中贫困
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Summary:The traditional definition of concentrated poverty-40 percent of a census tract population living below the federal poverty threshold-is problematic in light of burgeoning working poor populations, increasing inner-suburban poverty, and problems with the federal poverty threshold itself. This article questions the meaning of concentrated poverty as traditionally defined and measured through an analysis of social and built environments in selected Los Angeles area communities that meet the 40 percent threshold. Such neighborhoods face significant challenges, yet do not conform to stereotypes of concentrated poverty areas. Findings indicate the need for measures that recognize the increasingly heterogeneous forms and landscapes of poverty in globalizing urban regions.
ISSN:0033-0124
1467-9272
DOI:10.1080/00330120701724129