Poverty, by America - Ch. 2: Why Haven't We Made More Progress?

Intersections will continue our Fall 2026 book read, Matthew Desmond's Poverty, by America, on Wednesday, September 9, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. via Zoom. All University of Richmond faculty, staff, and students are welcome to participate.

Join us via Zoom: https://urichmond.zoom.us/j/81797085715?pwd=nGV67jm5MhQAFtodrQW6MFUSDC2grE.1

For our next conversation, please read:

Chapter 2: “Why Haven’t We Made More Progress?” (pages 24-40)

In Chapter 2, Desmond tackles a perplexing reality: despite fifty years of dramatic advancements in technology, medicine, and standards of living, the official U.S. poverty rate has remained virtually unchanged.

He examines and challenges common explanations for this stagnation. While cheaper consumer goods have created the illusion of progress, the costs of basic necessities (housing, healthcare, childcare, and utilities) have surged. Furthermore, Desmond reveals that poverty persists not because federal anti-poverty spending has declined, but because of a “leaky bucket” welfare system where funds often fail to reach low-income families. He also dismantles myths attributing poverty to immigration or single-parent family structures, demonstrating that poverty in America is neither an accident nor an individual failure, but the result of systemic choices and policies.

As you read, consider:

• How does Desmond’s distinction between cheaper consumer goods and the rising cost of basic necessities reshape how we view economic progress?
• What surprised or challenged you regarding federal anti-poverty spending and how welfare dollars (such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grants) are distributed?
• How do Desmond’s findings regarding immigration, family structure, and the “success sequence” complicate popular narratives about poverty?
• If poverty is sustained by societal and policy choices rather than lack of resources, what responsibilities do we carry in addressing these systems?

No prepared answers are needed—bring your questions, perspectives, and lived experiences to explore together.

For more information, contact Dr. Keith W. McIntosh at cio@richmond.edu.