Poverty has always been a topical issue for every country worldwide, and it tends to be especially critical during times of crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic is a good example of such periods since it has substantially undermined many industries and deprived the world economy of $28 trillion, which could be generated over the next five years (Coronavirus). The article “8 Million Have Slipped Into Poverty Since May as Federal Aid Has Dried Up” by Jason DeParle talks about the problem of poverty as a result of the pandemic. It also presents statistics that show how the introduction of the Cares Act impacted the level of poverty during the economic downturn caused by the virus.
The author explains the problem of poverty from the perspective of the global crisis, and with the help of statistical information, indicates that government support plays an important part in addressing this issue. The article presents the results of two studies that explored the effects of the Cares Act, a $2 trillion relief package, which assisted citizens who lost their jobs (The CARES Act). The research demonstrates how the introduction of this policy helped reduce the number of people living below the poverty line. Yet, its effects were temporary, and, currently, the overall amount of poor in the country has grown by eight million people since May (DeParle). Nevertheless, the methods employed by the authors of the studies eventually lead to slightly different evidence. For example, the statistics of the Columbia University model show that in September there was an improvement, while researchers from Chicago discovered that poverty during that month was steadily rising.
The author presents a sociological perspective on the problem by acknowledging that the considerable rise in poverty is associated with the economic crisis provoked by the pandemic rather than poor people’s shortcomings. The author presents poverty as an issue that is affected by social and economic developments, saying, “now the economy is showing new signs of deceleration, amid layoffs, a surge in coronavirus cases…” (DeParle). The article also provides another outlook on the problem, the one which postulates that government assistance discourages people from working and that poverty is not as important as unemployment. Thus, the author incorporates different perspectives on the issue, which makes the article less biased and improves its credibility.
One of the primary factors that have to be considered when dealing with the problem of poverty is the level of education and occupations of those who live below the poverty line. People who did not go to colleges and universities tend to have jobs that pay much less than those which require a degree; thus, they risk earning wages that are below the poverty threshold. Another important factor is gender since, according to statistics, women in the U.S. are more likely than men to experience poverty (Bleiweis). This also highlights the gender income inequality which exists in society and substantially contributes to the problem of poverty among women.
The article discussed in this paper talks about how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the level of poverty in the U.S. and provides information on the impact of the Cares Act. The article features statistics that suggest that government assistance played a significant role in temporarily reducing the number of poor, yet, studies still have certain conflicting evidence on the issue of poverty. The author presents poverty as a social and economic problem that occurs as a result of major external factors such as a pandemic. When studying the issue of poverty, sociologists also have to consider aspects such as education, occupation, and gender since they can substantially influence a person’s life and level of income.
Works Cited
Bleiweis, Robin. “The Basic Facts About Women in Poverty.” Center For American Progress, 2020. Web.
DeParle, Jason. “8 Million Have Slipped Into Poverty Since May as Federal Aid Has Dried Up.” The New York Times, 2020. Web.
“Coronavirus: The Economic Impact – 21 October 2020.” The UN Industrial Development Organization, 2020. Web.
“The CARES Act Works for All Americans.” The Department of the Treasury. Web.