Despite its enormous wealth, the United States leads the industrialized world in poverty. One Nation, Underprivileged unravels this disturbing paradox by offering a unique and radically different understanding of American poverty. It debunks many of our most common myths about the poor, while at the same time provides a powerful new framework for addressing this enormous social and economic problem. Mark Robert Rank vividly shows that the fundamental causes of poverty are to be found in our economic structure and political policy failures, rather than individual shortcomings or attitudes. He establishes for the first time that a significant percentage of Americans will experience poverty during their adult lifetimes, and firmly demonstrates that poverty is an issue of vital national concern. Ultimately, Rank provides us with a new paradigm for understanding poverty, and outlines an innovative set of strategies that will reduce American poverty. One Nation, Underprivileged represents a profound starting point for rekindling a national focus upon America's most vexing social and economic problem.

Part I. The Nature of American Poverty

1. Disturbing Contrasts
2. Below the Line
3. Poverty as a Structural Failing

Part II. A Cause for Concern

4. In Our Self Interest
5. True to Values
6. Essence of Citizenship

Part III. Creating Fundamental Change

7. A New Paradigm
8. Future Directions
9. From the Ground Up

Appendix A: Sources of Data
Appendix B: Additional Life Table Analyses
Bibliography