The federal poverty line struggles to capture the economic hardship that half of Americans face
- Written by Celine-Marie Pascale, Professor of Sociology, American University
Low-wage workers march in Washington on Aug. 2, 2021.Michael Nigro/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty ImagesMichael Chase works two jobs in southeast Ohio: one as a hotel night clerk and one as retail support – sorting through donations, setting new merchandise out, cleaning – at a nonprofit.
His schedule is not fixed in either job,...