Bradley Schiller

Many economists and social policy experts contend that large numbers of people remain in poverty despite the fact that they work full-time. In the following viewpoint, Bradley Schiller argues that existing data misstates the problem of the "working poor" by overstating work experience and understating actual wages. According to Schiller, a single person working year- round, full-time at the minimum wage earns more than the poverty level. He also contends that the working poor are a small minority among families with children. While working poverty does exist, Schiller claims, it is not extensive enough to justify increased government expenditure; instead, he asserts, the government should focus on increasing the poor's work activity. Schiller is a professor of economics at the American University in Washington, D.C.

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