ABSTRACT
Althoughpercapitaincomeandmedianfamilyin-comehavegrownsince1979,thewell-beingofthoseatthebottomoftheincomescalehasdeterio-rated.Thepovertyratehasactuallyincreasedsince 1979,andmoreofthepoornowhaveincomesbelowhalf ofthepovertyline.Povertyrateshaveincreasedmost amongchildrenandpersonsinfemale-headedfamilies.Decreasedgovernmentalaidandlowerwagesarelargelyto blamefortheincreaseinpovertysince1979.Among female-headedfamilies,cutsinbenefitsraisedthepoverty rateby8.6percentagepointsbetween1979and1988.
