Economic Recovery: Poverty In The United States

Despite five years of economic recovery, poverty is still a challenging issue in the United States. The United States is increasingly seen as inadequately assisting the less-advantaged members of its society with a “hand-up” out of poverty. According to a 2014 report by the Census Bureau, more than 45 million people, which is an equivalent of 14.5 percent of all Americans lived below the poverty line as at 2013 (Gongloff, 2014). Even though this was a decline from 2012’s 15 percent, the level of poverty remains higher than 2006’s 12.3 percent before recession began (Gongloff, 2014). The most likely reasons for this grim trend could be that the United States’ policymakers have increasingly ignored the needs of the very poor Americans. For example, …show more content…
Switzerland has some of the smallest population living under poverty line. Switzerland performs very well in many measures of well-being relative to the United States and other countries in the Better Life Index (OECD Better Life Index, 2015). Also, Switzerland ranks above the average in subjective well-being, jobs and earning, income and wealth, social connections, and health status. Other areas where Switzerland ranks above average are personal security, education and skills, and environmental quality. To achieve these milestones in better life and poverty eradication, Switzerland has employed an array of …show more content…
By saying better policy better lives, the US government has to focus on important social aspects such as health, education, environmental quality, and the community at large. For example, it has to focus more on vocational education and training that increases chances of getting a job, better health care policies to increase accessibility and affordability of healthcare services, better conservation of the environment to reduce health impacts, and foster strong social networks for better economic opportunities (World Hunger Education Service, 2016). Additionally, the United States should consider principal programs to provide income and other assistance for poor people. These are the minimum wage, Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). More, the United States should better administer State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), the Social Security and Medicare for the senior citizens, and Medicaid (World Hunger Education Service, 2016). Undertaking these measures in a better way would mean a healthier population that is productive to