Full Citation
Title: The Oregon Poverty Measure
Citation Type: Miscellaneous
Publication Year: 2020
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Abstract: In the context of an economy that has experienced both historic highs and lows during the last fifteen years, including Depression-level unemployment related to COVID-19 shutdowns, there is great interest in understanding the levels and trends of poverty in Oregon. Interpretations of progress against poverty and how social policies affect poverty hinge on how poverty is measured. Existing poverty measures have well-known limitations that fail to reveal the true nature of poverty. The Oregon Poverty Measure Project, inspired by Supplemental Poverty Measure methods developed at the federal level, aims to produce the most valid measure of poverty for the state. In this report, we use 2014-18 American Community Survey data with a number of adjustments to economic resources and thresholds.1 We find that: • Overall, 13% Oregonians were in poverty using the Oregon Poverty Measure (ORPM), slightly lower than 14% based on the federal Official Poverty Rate (OPM).2 • During this period, ORPM poverty declined overall, from 15% to 13%. • The overall child ORPM poverty rate was substantially lower than the Official Poverty Measure for children (13% vs. 19%) and the older adult poverty rate considerably higher (12% vs. 8%). • Black Oregonians and Native Americans experienced disproportionately high rates of poverty (17% and 18%, respectively) compared to Whites (12%), although disparities were less under the ORPM than under the Official measure. • Geographically, poverty in Oregon is higher than the state average in Southern Oregon and pockets of metropolitan areas. • The share of Oregonians in deep poverty (4%) remained mostly unchanged, suggesting pockets of persistent poverty in Oregon. For the first time in the state, we document the influence of programs that comprise the federal and state social safety net. We find that, in the absence of Social Security, the Earned Income Tax Credit, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, a considerably higher share of Oregonians would be in poverty. We anticipate that the Oregon Poverty Measure Project will produce policy-relevant information and contribute to ongoing discussions about the hardships experienced by Oregonians. Next steps in the Oregon Poverty Measure Project include the production of a series of policy briefs focused on key findings, poverty forecasts, and analysis of policy impacts.
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Authors: Rothwell, David W.; Giordono, Leanne S.; Weber, Bruce A.
Publisher: Oregon State University
Data Collections: IPUMS CPS
Topics: Poverty and Welfare
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