Catalina Espinosa
Research expert covering society, economy, and politics for Europe and the EU
Poverty and income in the United States - statistics & facts
The impressive economic growth of the United States over the last century is unquestionable. Established as the land of the free, the United States has provided the economic stage for many to craft out their slice of the American dream. More questionable is that about 11.1 percent of Americans live in poverty despite this national wealth. However, the acceptance that poverty for some is an unfortunate consequence of free markets is present among a strong majority of the population. After all, the nature of competition is that there must be losers.
