Concentrated Poverty: A Critical Analysis

Abstract

To many observers, it may be almost reflexive to believe that neighborhoods with high levels of poverty naturally breed more poverty. To Herbert Gans, long a poverty specialist, this is a dangerous myth. Moreover, he says, it is one the Obama administration apparently accepts. The result leads to policies to break up neighborhoods rather than getting to the root causes of extreme poverty—not the least of which is the unavailability of jobs.