America’s Poorest and Most Affluent Counties, 1980 to 2010

verfasst von: Wendy Shaw

Verlag: Springer International Publishing

Buchreihe : SpringerBriefs in Geography

Enthalten in: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Technik" , Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

Einloggen, um Zugang zu erhalten

Über dieses Buch

This book explores the changing spatial distribution of the United States of America's poorest and most affluent counties over the 30 years from 1980 to 2010. While overall rates of poverty have changed somewhat during this period, the geography of counties where affluence and poverty rates are the highest have also shifted as economic fortunes wax and wane. The spatial understanding of poverty and affluence is an important dimension of addressing the complex economic and social contexts within which poverty occurs, and which vary substantially depending on several factors. While there has been significant focus on poverty in the United States, including some analysis of its spatial characteristics, since the 1960s there has been relatively little research on the concomitant geography of affluence. The geographies of poverty and affluence analyzed in this book give a view of spatial economic segregation. Spatial aspects of both the poorest and most affluent counties are focused on, as well as the changing gap and relative geographies between rich and poor over three decades.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Frontmatter

Chapter 1. Introduction

Abstract

The author provides a discussion of the extent of poverty in the United States after Lyndon B. Johnson’s declaration of the ‘War on Poverty’. This introductory chapter details changes in the number and percentages of the poor at the national level, in order to provide a background for this study. The focus of this study is, in essence, an exploration of the changing spatial distribution of America’s poorest and most affluent counties over the 30 years from 1980 to 2010.

Wendy Shaw

Chapter 2. Data and Methodology

Abstract

A general measure of poverty and affluence (INDEX) was developed and is explained. INDEX differs from other commonly used measures as it is sensitive to geographic variation in the cost of living. Information concerning the sources of the data used are provided, and the methodologies employed in the study are outlined.

Wendy Shaw

Chapter 3. The Geography of Poverty in United States at the Spatial Scale of the County

Abstract

This chapter includes identification of the poorest counties in 1980, 1990, 2000, and 2010, and details about cores of persistent poverty. In addition the author discusses changes in poverty over the 30-year study period. Tables that detail the poorest 50, 100, and 157 (5%) of counties are provided for each study year. Maps of the poorest 5% of counties for 1980, 1990, 2000, and 2010 are also included in the chapter.

Wendy Shaw

Chapter 4. The Geography of Affluence in the United States at the Spatial Scale of the County

Abstract

The most affluent counties in 1980, 1990, 2000, and 2010 are identified. This chapter includes details concerning the spatial aspects of affluence, and the changes in affluence over the 30-year study period. Tables that detail the most affluent 50, 100, and 157 (5%) of counties are provided for each study year. The most affluent 5% of counties are mapped for 1980, 1990, 2000, and 2010.

Wendy Shaw

Chapter 5. Changes over the Study Period

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the spatial stability and change in terms of poverty and affluence over the study period. The question of relative poverty and affluence is addressed, specifically whether there has been any economic convergence of divergence between the richest and poorest counties. County data for each state is used to explore changes in relative poverty and affluence. Changing inequality in each state is explored using the poorest county INDEX as a percentage of the most affluent county INDEX, and the percentage gap of the richest and poorest counties with respect to the state average. Inequality in 1980, as well as changes from 1980 to 1990, 1990 to 2000, 2000 to 2010, and 1980 to 2010 are discussed. Graphs displaying where each state is positioned in terms of inequality for these periods are provided.

Wendy Shaw

Chapter 6. Characteristics of Poor Versus Affluent Counties

Abstract

A statistical analysis of the 1980–1990 data is used to identify the concomitants of income poverty and characteristics of the poverty population. This analysis forms one basis for discussion of representative counties as case studies in each of the cores of poverty as well as examples of affluent counties. In addition, the author discusses some general characteristics of poor versus affluent counties.

Wendy Shaw

Chapter 7. Summary and Conclusions

Abstract

This chapter summarizes elements of change and stability in the spatial distribution of both US poverty and affluence. Conclusions and some policy considerations regarding the poverty cores identified are presented.

Wendy Shaw

Backmatter

Titel: America’s Poorest and Most Affluent Counties, 1980 to 2010
verfasst von: Wendy Shaw
Verlag: Springer International Publishing
Electronic ISBN: 978-3-030-75340-5
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-75339-9
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-75340-5