Measuring Concentrated Poverty in a Global Metropolis: Lessons from Los Angeles∗

∗This research was funded by the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate. The authors would also like to thank Dr. Pascale Joassart-Marcelli and the anonymous referees for their useful comments on previous drafts, as well as David Deis for mapping assistance.

Abstract

The traditional definition of concentrated poverty—40 percent of a census tract population living below the federal poverty threshold—is problematic in light of burgeoning working poor populations, increasing inner-suburban poverty, and problems with the federal poverty threshold itself. This article questions the meaning of concentrated poverty as traditionally defined and measured through an analysis of social and built environments in selected Los Angeles area communities that meet the 40 percent threshold. Such neighborhoods face significant challenges, yet do not conform to stereotypes of concentrated poverty areas. Findings indicate the need for measures that recognize the increasingly heterogeneous forms and landscapes of poverty in globalizing urban regions.

La definición tradicional de pobreza concentrada – el 40 por ciento de la población de un distrito censal que vive por debajo del umbral federal de pobreza – es problemática debido a las crecientes poblaciones trabajadoras pobres que aumentan la pobreza intersuburbana, y a problemas con el propio umbral federal de pobreza. En este artículo se cuestiona el significado de pobreza concentrada, como tradicionalmente se define y mide, a través de un análisis de los entornos sociales y de vivienda de ciertas comunidades del área de Los Angeles que caen dentro del umbral del 40 por ciento. Tales vecindarios se enfrentan a problemas significativos, pero no cumplen con el estereotipo de las áreas de pobreza concentrada. Los resultados indican la necesidad de medidas que reconozcan las formas y panoramas crecientemente heterogéneos de pobreza en regiones urbanas globalizantes.

Key Words:

• 40 percent threshold
• concentrated poverty
• Los Angeles
• urban underclass

关键词:

• 40％的门槛
• 集中贫困
• 洛杉矶
• 城市下层阶级

Palabras clave:

• umbral del 40 por ciento
• pobreza concentrada
• Los Angeles
• subclase urbana

Notes

∗This research was funded by the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate. The authors would also like to thank Dr. Pascale Joassart-Marcelli and the anonymous referees for their useful comments on previous drafts, as well as David Deis for mapping assistance.