ADVISORY

ANN ARBOR—University of Michigan experts are available to discuss the new national statistics that show the poverty rate climbing to 12.1 percent last year from 11.7 percent in 2001.

Rebecca Blank and Sheldon Danziger, co-directors of the University?s National Poverty Center (NPC), can provide insightful analysis regarding the poverty and income data, released today (Sept. 26) by the U.S. Census Bureau. The center is part of the nationally acclaimed Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. The center analyzes the causes and consequences of poverty and the effects of anti-poverty policies.

“The small increases in poverty reflect a stagnant economy that’s not showing improvements over 2002, but wasn’t getting markedly worse either,” she said. Blank, dean of the Ford School, can be reached at (734) 763-2258 or blank@umich.edu. For more on Blank, visit http://www.fordschool.umich.edu/people/Faculty/blank-r.htm

Danziger, professor of public policy, said he?s not surprised by the poverty rate increase because poverty always increases during a recession. However, this is the first time that poverty has increased two years in a row since the recession of the early 1990s, he said.

“We focus too much, however, on year-to-year changes in poverty and not enough on long-term trends,” he said. “Note that the official poverty rate in 2002 is not much different than it was 30 years ago, despite the fact that Americans on average have higher incomes today than in the early 1970s.” Danziger can be reached at (734) 615-8321 or sheldond@umich.edu. For more on Danziger, visit http://www.fordschool.umich.edu/people/Faculty/danziger-s.htm

EDITOR?S NOTE: Daniel Weinberg, chief of the U.S. Census Bureau’s Housing and Household Economic Statistics Division, will speak at the U-M at 3:30 p.m. on Oct 7. in Schorling Auditorium at the School of Education. During his NPC-sponsored visit, which is free and open to the public, he will discuss the latest poverty and income statistics. Following his remarks, Blank and Danziger will provide additional comments on poverty.

More information on Prof. Blank

More information on Prof. Danziger

NPC

Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy

blank@umich.edusheldond@umich.edu