Question 1

Statement I: The earned income tax credit is a form of redistributing income to the working poor. Statement II: Although they are very visible, there are probably less than one million homeless people in the U.S.

Accepted Answer

The earned income tax credit is indeed a form of redistributing income to the working poor, which makes statement I true. However, it is estimated that there are approximately 500,000 homeless people in the U.S. on any given night, so statement II is false. Therefore, the best choice is A, as statement I is true and statement II is false.

Question 2

In which one of these years was the U.S. poverty rate the lowest?

Accepted Answer

The U.S. poverty rate was the lowest in 1973, reaching a historic low after a period of economic prosperity and the impact of social programs from the 1960s.

Question 3

Statement I: The poverty line was higher in 2008 than it was in 1999. Statement II: There are more poor white Americans than poor black Americans.

Accepted Answer

Both statements are true. The poverty line, which is adjusted for inflation, generally increases over time, reflecting the rising cost of living. As for the second statement, while the poverty rate is higher among black Americans than white Americans, the total number of poor white Americans exceeds that of poor black Americans due to the larger overall population size of white Americans.

Question 4

Over _______% of Americans live below the poverty line.

Accepted Answer

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2018, 13.1% of Americans lived below the poverty line.

Question 5

Statement I: There are at least 10 Americans with fortunes of over $17 billion. Statement II: The Walmart inheritors net worth is over $80 billion.

Accepted Answer

As of my last update, there are indeed more than 10 Americans with fortunes exceeding $17 billion, making Statement I true. The Walton family, who are the inheritors of Walmart's fortune, collectively have a net worth that significantly exceeds $80 billion, making Statement II also true.

Question 6

Statement I: The net worth of the top one % of American households is greater than the net worth of the bottom 90% Statement II: The poverty rate in 2008 was 13.2%.

Accepted Answer

Statement I is true as wealth inequality in the United States has been a significant issue, with the top 1% holding a disproportionate amount of wealth compared to the rest of the population. Statement II is also true; according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the official poverty rate in 2008 was indeed 13.2%.

Question 7

Statement I: In 2008 the official poverty line for a family of four was $22,025. Statement II: The poverty rate in 2009 was 13.2%.

Accepted Answer

Statement I is true as the official poverty line for a family of four in 2008 was indeed $22,025. Statement II is also true as the poverty rate in 2009 was 13.2%, according to official data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Therefore, both statements are true.

Question 8

Statement I: The poverty rate for blacks and Hispanics is almost triple that of whites. Statement II: There are no more than 250,000 homeless in the United States.

Accepted Answer

According to the most recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the poverty rate for blacks and Hispanics is almost triple that of whites. This statement is true. However, the claim that there are no more than 250,000 homeless in the United States is false. According to the Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress, there were approximately 552,830 people experiencing homelessness on a single night in 2018.

Question 9

In which of these years was the U.S. poverty rate the highest?

Accepted Answer

The U.S. poverty rate was highest in 1960, before many of the social programs aimed at reducing poverty were implemented in the 1960s and 1970s.

Question 10

What percentage of American families pay more payroll tax than they pay in income tax?

Accepted Answer

According to a report by the Tax Policy Center, approximately 75% of American households pay more in payroll taxes (such as Social Security and Medicare) than they do in federal income taxes. This is often because payroll taxes are a flat percentage of income, while income taxes are calculated based on taxable income and can be reduced through deductions and credits.

Question 11

Each of the following is a provision of the 1996 welfare reform law except that

Accepted Answer

The other provisions mentioned (lifetime limit on welfare benefits, state control of welfare programs, and ban on welfare for legal immigrants) are all key components of the 1996 welfare reform law, known as the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act. However, removing adults who have been convicted of a felony from the welfare rolls is not a provision of the law. There are some restrictions on felons receiving certain types of public assistance, but this is not a blanket ban on welfare.

Question 12

Statement I: In the mid-1990s, before the passage of the Welfare Reform Act of 1996, our poverty rate was the highest in history. Statement II: The welfare rolls began falling two years before the passage of the Welfare Reform Act of 1996.

Accepted Answer

Statement I is false because the poverty rate in the mid-1990s was not the highest in history. In fact, the poverty rate was higher in the 1960s and 1970s. However, Statement II is true because the welfare rolls began to decline in the mid-1990s, even before the passage of the Welfare Reform Act of 1996. This decline was due to a combination of factors, including improvements in the economy and changes in state welfare policies.

Question 13

Statement I: Welfare and food stamps raise nearly half of all poor families above the poverty line. Statement II: Monthly public assistance grants vary considerably from state-to-state.

Accepted Answer

Statement I is false because welfare and food stamps, while helpful, do not raise nearly half of all poor families above the poverty line. The impact varies widely and depends on many factors, including the size of the family, other income, and specific state policies. Statement II is true because there is significant variation in the amount of public assistance grants provided by different states, reflecting differences in state policies, cost of living, and other factors.

Question 14

Statement I: Welfare rolls are currently at their highest in ten years. Statement II: About half of Americans receive food stamps by the time they reach 20.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Statement I: Welfare rolls are currently at...

Question 15

Statement I: Because of the Great Recession of 2008, our poverty rate is now at an eleven year high. Statement II: One child in every six lives below the poverty line.

Accepted Answer

Both statements are true. Statement I refers to the overall poverty rate being at an eleven year high due to the 2008 recession, and statement II refers to the specific fact that one in every six children in the United States lives below the poverty line.

Question 16

About ____ of the world's population subsists on no more than $2 a day.

Accepted Answer

The answer of About ____ of the world's population subsists...

Question 17

Statement I: If non-cash benefits like food stamps and Medicaid were counted as income, the poverty rate would be about three points lower. Statement II: Conservatives believe that the poverty rate understates the true amount of poverty in the U.S.

Accepted Answer

Statement I is true, as non-cash benefits do count towards a person's standard of living and should be considered when calculating poverty. However, statement II is false, as conservatives generally criticize the use of non-cash benefits like food stamps and Medicaid, and would therefore not likely believe that they underestimate poverty.

Question 18

Each of the following is a provision of the 1996 welfare reform law except that

Accepted Answer

The answer of Each of the following is a provision...

Question 19

Statement I: The highest income quintile received about half of all income in 2008. Statement II: Between 1968 and 2008 the percentage of income received by the highest quintile increased by almost 10 percent.

Accepted Answer

Both statements are true. The highest income quintile, or the top 20% of earners, has historically received a disproportionate share of total income, with this share increasing over time. Data from various sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau, confirm that the highest quintile's share of income has grown, supporting the accuracy of both statements.

Question 20

Statement I: Our largest poverty group is the elderly. Statement II: Most black Americans are poor.

Accepted Answer

Both statements are false. The largest poverty group is not the elderly, thanks to social security and other retirement benefits. Additionally, while black Americans experience higher poverty rates than some other demographic groups, it is not accurate to say that most black Americans are poor.

Quiz 18: Income Distribution and Poverty

Statement I: The earned income tax credit is a form of redistributing income to the working poor. Statement II: Although they are very visible, there are probably less than one million homeless people in the U.S.

In which one of these years was the U.S. poverty rate the lowest?

Statement I: The poverty line was higher in 2008 than it was in 1999. Statement II: There are more poor white Americans than poor black Americans.

Over _______% of Americans live below the poverty line.

Statement I: There are at least 10 Americans with fortunes of over $17 billion. Statement II: The Walmart inheritors net worth is over $80 billion.

Statement I: The net worth of the top one % of American households is greater than the net worth of the bottom 90% Statement II: The poverty rate in 2008 was 13.2%.

Statement I: In 2008 the official poverty line for a family of four was $22,025. Statement II: The poverty rate in 2009 was 13.2%.

Statement I: The poverty rate for blacks and Hispanics is almost triple that of whites. Statement II: There are no more than 250,000 homeless in the United States.

In which of these years was the U.S. poverty rate the highest?

What percentage of American families pay more payroll tax than they pay in income tax?

Each of the following is a provision of the 1996 welfare reform law except that

Statement I: In the mid-1990s, before the passage of the Welfare Reform Act of 1996, our poverty rate was the highest in history. Statement II: The welfare rolls began falling two years before the passage of the Welfare Reform Act of 1996.

Statement I: Welfare and food stamps raise nearly half of all poor families above the poverty line. Statement II: Monthly public assistance grants vary considerably from state-to-state.

Statement I: Welfare rolls are currently at their highest in ten years. Statement II: About half of Americans receive food stamps by the time they reach 20.

Statement I: Because of the Great Recession of 2008, our poverty rate is now at an eleven year high. Statement II: One child in every six lives below the poverty line.

About ____ of the world's population subsists on no more than $2 a day.

Statement I: If non-cash benefits like food stamps and Medicaid were counted as income, the poverty rate would be about three points lower. Statement II: Conservatives believe that the poverty rate understates the true amount of poverty in the U.S.

Each of the following is a provision of the 1996 welfare reform law except that

Statement I: The highest income quintile received about half of all income in 2008. Statement II: Between 1968 and 2008 the percentage of income received by the highest quintile increased by almost 10 percent.

Statement I: Our largest poverty group is the elderly. Statement II: Most black Americans are poor.