Why the U.S. has failed to end poverty

Child poverty levels fell dramatically — nearly in half — in 2021 with the help of pandemic-era government programs and cash assistance. But with those programs gone, poverty in the United States looks pretty much the same as it has for the past 50 years, despite an overall increase in how much we’re spending on welfare.

This has us wondering: Why is that?

On the show today, sociologist Matthew Desmond, author of “Poverty, by America,” breaks down how the United States became a country with more poverty than other rich democracies, what’s wrong with our welfare system and what really works to reduce poverty. Plus, the role regular Americans play in all of it.

In the News Fix: Following the tragic death of Jordan Neely in New York City, we reflect on the responsibility shared by society at large for allowing unjust systems to remain in place. And, a key player in the global wood pulp industry is considering switching to Chinese currency in its business transactions. We’ll get into what that could mean for the future of the U.S. dollar as the world’s reserve currency.

Later, we’ll hear about an early depiction of a bathroom in the “Star Wars” universe. Plus, one couple shares their perspective on Kai’s “rants.” And, this week’s answer to the Make Me Smart question comes from the mom of one of our producers.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• • “Why Poverty Persists in America” from The New York Times

• • “Child poverty fell by nearly half in 2021, Census Bureau says” from Marketplace

• • “Private opulence, public squalor: How the U.S. helps the rich and hurts the poor” from NPR

• • “How many people are really facing poverty in the U.S.?” from Marketplace

• • “National Poverty in America Awareness Month: January 2023” from the U.S. Census Bureau

• • “The Uncertain Hour” from Marketplace

• • “Opinion | Society’s failures on mental health put Jordan Neely on that F train” from The Washington Post

• • “World’s Biggest Pulp Producer Suzano Considers Trading With China in Yuan” from Bloomberg

• • Mad magazine Issue No. 197, March 1978 from the Internet Archive

Do you have an answer to the Make Me Smart question? We want to hear it. Leave us a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART, and your submission may be featured in a future episode.