Some critics complain that official U.S. poverty statistics overstate poverty because they do not consider the value of in-kind transfers. A large portion of the in-kind benefits for many poor families is made up of non-cash benefits such as food vouchers, housing subsidies and medical insurance. Should the value of these noncash benefits such as medical insurance be counted as an improvement in the economic well being of low-income families for purposes of calculating poverty statistics? Why or why not?

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The Answer of Some critics complain that official U.S. poverty statistics overstate poverty because they do not consider the value of in-kind transfers. A large portion of the in-kind benefits for many poor families is made up of non-cash benefits such as food vouchers, housing subsidies and medical insurance. Should the value of these noncash benefits such as medical insurance be counted as an improvement in the economic well being of low-income families for purposes of calculating poverty statistics? Why or why not?

Some Critics Complain That Official U