Poverty and Power: The Problem of Structural Inequality

As one of the wealthiest nations in the world, the United States possesses vast economic resources, yet 10% of its population roughly 36 million people are systematically denied access to basic necessities such as food, housing, and healthcare.

Many Americans are taught to view poverty as a result of individual shortcomings, such as failure of effort, ability, or ambition. Poverty and Power challenges this narrative by centering power as the driving force behind economic inequality. This book examines how structural forces, including political decisions, institutional arrangements, and dominant ideologies operate across everyday life to determine who has access to resources and who does not, while also highlighting how individuals and communities organize, resist, and work towards more just futures. Accessible and critically engaged, Poverty and Power offers readers a framework for understanding and challenging the structural roots of poverty in the U.S.
New to the Fifth Edition:
- New Chapter 2, "The Politics of Poverty" demonstrates how narratives about poverty are constructed, contested, and mobilized to shape policy outcomes
- New discussion of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB) and Project 2025 reflects the contemporary policy landscape and its implications for inequality
- New pedagogical program includes learning outcomes, end-of-chapter activities, and curated resources to support critical engagement and extend learning beyond the text
- New chapter-opening vignettes situate abstract concepts in lived experiences and underscore how structural forces are felt, negotiated, and resisted in everyday life