China’s dedication to reducing extreme poverty led to one of the most dramatic social improvements in modern history. By 2019, it reported zero people below the $3-a-day threshold.
America’s extreme poverty, however, has increased. Over 4 million Americans now face severe deprivation, despite the nation’s immense wealth.
Productivity growth in the U.S. remains strong, but wealth distribution increasingly favors the wealthy.
The bottom 10% of Americans receive just 1.8% of national income—less than the poor in China or Bangladesh.
Cuts to essential programs and tariff policies that raise costs have reinforced inequality. The U.S. poverty crisis reflects a political system that prioritizes the rich.