Week 8 NJ Alice Report /Reviews on Economic Inequality in NJ

http://www.unitedwayalice.org/documents/16UW%20ALICE%20Report_NJUpdate_Lowres_12.13.16.pdf

http://intraweb.stockton.edu/eyos/hughescenter/content/docs/Research/Economic%20Inequality%20-%20HC-2016March%20Updated.pdf

What’s relevant to the reports are that they show statistics and survey research about the poverty epidemic in New Jersey. Also, they show public opinions and trends that are useful in understanding social inequality. What’s interesting in these reports was that New Jersey residents who are struggling financially: 37 percent of households in New Jersey could not afford basic needs such as housing, child care, food, health care, and transportation in 2014. Furthermore, 66% of New Jersey residents believe the state is on the wrong track. The research article from Stockton University, “Views on Economic Inequality in the state of New Jersey” stated nearly sixty percent (58%) of New Jersey residents surveyed disapproved of the way Chris Christie was handling his job as governor.

In New Jersey, the total number of households increased by 1 percent between 2007 and 2014 to 3,194,844. But the number of ALICE and poverty households increased through the Great Recession (from 2007 to 2010) by 18 percent, and then increased another 10 percent from 2010 to 2014 (Figure 1). With the growth in population, the number of households that are struggling to meet their basic needs has grown even more.  However, according to ALICE, All age groups saw a decline in financial stability, with the exception of households 65 and older. Between 2007 and 2014, nearly each age group saw an increase in households living below the ALICE Threshold. The one exception is senior households, whose conditions started to improve after 2012. From 2012 to 2014, the proportion of households headed by someone 65 years and older in poverty remained flat, and the proportion of senior ALICE households decreased by 2 percent.

Furthermore, as compared with other Americans, the majority (82%) of New Jersey survey respondents feel they are doing better (55%) or the same (26.8%) economically as others. Only 15% percent reported doing worse than other Americans. economic vulnerability New Jersey residents are experiencing nearly seven years after the Great Recession is profound with 55% of our sample feeling as though their income is falling behind the cost of living and nearly 37% suggesting their income is just keeping pace.

The main argument in all this is; poverty rates and household income opinions will vary. What’s similar between the two findings from the articles is that the recession has caused New Jersey residents to struggle. What is different between the articles is one states, the number of ALICE and poverty households have increased significantly since the Great Recession. Yet, the other states New Jersey Residents feel they are doing better economically. Overall what is important is the differences between the two because they give perspective to a different opinion, which leads to the search for truth.