This edition provides a comprehensive examination of the extent, causes, effects, and costs of American poverty nearly ten years after the passage of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) in 1996.

This new edition of American Poverty in a New Era of Reform provides a comprehensive examination of the extent, causes, effects, and costs of American poverty nearly ten years after the passage of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) in 1996. The author includes the most current available demographic, budget, evaluation, and program data to evaluate the impact of this sweeping legislation on federal and state policies, as well as on poverty populations. This revised edition takes into account the economic slowdown that took place in 2001 through 2003. It examines the state decisions about how to implement PRWORA, and how changes have affected the poverty population and overall welfare system. The author identifies the positive implications of welfare reform along with problems that must be addressed. New features for this edition include an appendix of Internet sources a state-by-state tables of poverty rates.

List of Tables and Figures
Preface
List of Acronyms
1. Introduction: American Poverty
2. How Many Americans Are Poor?
3. The American Poor
4. Why Are People Poor in America?
5. The Evolution of Welfare: Ending Welfare as We Know It
6. State Welfare Plans Under PRWORA
7. After PRWORA: The American Welfare System
8. The Impact of Welfare Reform
9. Refining American Social Welfare Policy
Appendices
Bibliography.