ABSTRACT
In The Dream and the Nightmare, Myron Magnet offers a conservative interpretation of American poverty. Before examining specific theories of poverty, it is helpful to know some additional facts about America's poor population that have relevance to this discussion. With this understanding of the poverty population and their use of welfare, we can examine and evaluate some specific theories of the causes of poverty. Theories of poverty generally fall into one of two categories: cultural/ behavioral or structural/economic. Lawrence Mead focused, first, on proving the healthy poor could work and documenting ample economic opportunity for those with motivation. Mickey Kaus argues that welfare might not be the cause of poverty, but that welfare sustains it. Cornel West in his book Race Matters argues that while there is an economic antecedent, the problems of the black population are more complex than Wilson imagines.
