Sep 12, 2017

09/12/2017: America’s falling poverty rate, in context

Spencer Platt/Getty Images

We say it a lot in our show: context matters. Doing the numbers doesn't do you much good without knowing the bigger picture. To wit: The official poverty rate in this country dropped a full percentage point last year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, putting 12.7 percent of Americans under the poverty line. Also, median household income rose a about 3 percent to about $59,000 a year. We'll start out today's show by talking about what that means.

Then: We talked yesterday about all the memorials to victims of mass violence being built and financed in this country. Today, we'll take a look at what goes into maintaining them. Plus: Globalization gets a bad rap in the States, but what about emerging economies? They're seeing the benefits and starting to catch up.

Segments From this episode

Trade Off: Stories of Globalization and Backlash

As India's economy catches up to the richer world, tensions emerge

by Scott Tong

Sep 12, 2017

People in emerging economies reap benefits from an interconnected world, but their gains can stoke resentment in developed nations.

Globalization is helping countries like China and India catch up with Western countries.

Ken Garduno, Illustrator

LISTEN

EMBED

Why it's difficult to "always remember"

by Adriene Hill

Sep 12, 2017

Maintaining memorials over decades can be a challenge for many communities.

Jane Thomas, collections manager at the Oklahoma City National Memorial, tends to one of the chairs representing the 168 people killed in the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building the day prior to the 10th anniversary of the explosion.

Win McNamee/Getty Images

LISTEN

EMBED

Shelf Life

Restaurateur Jen Agg on creating ambiance, treating staff like family and sexism in the kitchen

by Kai Ryssdal and Bridget Bodnar

Sep 12, 2017

In a new book, Canadian restaurateur Jen Agg recounts growing up in the restaurant industry and why she thinks it can still get better.

Jenna Wakani

LISTEN

EMBED

Census reports drop in poverty, but for a lot of Americans, things don't feel better

by Kimberly Adams and Andy Uhler

Sep 12, 2017

We’ve got new numbers today from the U.S. Census Bureau on poverty in America. The official poverty rate went down by 0.8 percent. That means last year, about 40.6 million Americans were living in poverty (12.7 percent). Median household incomes went up by about 3.2 percent. If you’re in the middle of the economic spectrum, […]

LISTEN

EMBED

We say it a lot in our show: context matters. Doing the numbers doesn’t do you much good without knowing the bigger picture. To wit: The official poverty rate in this country dropped a full percentage point last year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, putting 12.7 percent of Americans under the poverty line. Also, median household income rose a about 3 percent to about $59,000 a year. We’ll start out today’s show by talking about what that means.

Then: We talked yesterday about all the memorials to victims of mass violence being built and financed in this country. Today, we’ll take a look at what goes into maintaining them. Plus: Globalization gets a bad rap in the States, but what about emerging economies? They’re seeing the benefits and starting to catch up.