Measuring poverty on a spectrum instead of an arbitrary line conveys a more accurate picture of inequality

Measuring poverty on a spectrum instead of an arbitrary line conveys a more accurate picture of inequality

Does drawing a line make sense at any step of the way to wealth? fatido/iStock via Getty Images PlusMichael W. Green, a Wall Street investor, created a buzz in late 2025 by arguing that the U.S. poverty line should be jacked up to US$140,000 for a family of four. Currently, a family of that size has to be eking by on $33,000 a year to qualify as poor in the federal government’s eyes. His critique builds on a broader debate about how to measure p…

A Better Way To Measure Poverty

Olivier Sterck, The Conversation An economist proposes a new method of estimating the scope of poverty in different countries.