Working But Poor, revised edition: America's Contradiction Levitan

Revised and expanded for the 1990's, this new edition of Working But Poor examines the experiences and hardships of today's poor workers and analyzes how government policies can best relieve deprivation and encourage work. In profiles of poor workers, the authors examine the severity of income problems and analyze the nature of low-wage job markets. They also assess the impact of unemployment, technological developments, immigration, and international trade on this complex and persistent problem.

In the United States today, 2 million full-time workers and their families live in poverty, as do 7 million part-time workers and their families. These people are often worse off than the unemployed poor and welfare recipients: having earned income, they are ineligible for important programs. The authors examine the dimensions and causes of this problem and explain why current government programs do not help. The book is a good introduction to an important social issue for lay readers and an insightful examination for the informed. The authors' proposals should initiate a timely debate among specialists. Frieda Shoenberg Rozen, Pennsylvania State Univ. University Park, Pa.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.