Areas with Concentrated Poverty
Distinct from measuring the number of people living in poverty, the Census Bureau also reports the number and share of people living in “poverty areas.” Such areas are defined as census tracts with a poverty rate of 20% or more. A recent report, based on 2008-2012 statistics from the American Community Survey (ACS), presents state estimates of both the share of the population living in poverty areas and the share of people in poverty who live in poverty areas.
The Balance Wheel in State Budgets
It has often been observed that higher education serves as a balance wheel in state budgets. Put differently, it is the program that helps keep state budgets in balance.