Poor, Poor, Poor

Theoretically, poverty is a point-in-time description of a person's financial assets. Practically, at least in the US context, poverty bears a heavy moral judgment that is to many suggestive of individual shortcomings or deficits. What are the origins of this phenomenon? How has it changed over time? Who has benefited and how? What are the consequences? Looking at New York City from the 1870s to today, we will explore these and other questions that are at the heart of contemporary American life.