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Identifying poverty levels requires accurate measurements

A University of Illinois study found that a simplified equation to calculate income loss fails to recognize household substitution effects, leading to overestimation of poverty rates. By accounting for these effects, the study provides a more accurate measure of income loss and its implications for policy responses.

Examining motherly fears

A new study by sociologists at Rice University and Stanford University explores how neighborhood poverty influences maternal fear of children's outdoor play. Mothers' household economic status, education, employment, and physical/mental health all contribute to their fears.

SourceRice University·JournalFamily Relations·DateOct 3, 2011

Poverty and national parks: Decade-long study finds surprising relationship

A decade-long study of people living near Kibale National Park in Uganda found that most households improved their prosperity, despite conventional wisdom suggesting parks contribute to poverty. The study suggests that parks provide a source of insurance for poor families, allowing them to hunt or sell park resources.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 22, 2011

Can small loans reduce poverty?

A recent study by Yale University economists found that microloans can increase ability to cope with risk and strengthen community ties, but may not lead to increased investment in businesses. The researchers also discovered that awardees' subjective well-being slightly declined, contradicting previous claims.

'Young, disadvantaged men'

A recent SAGE publication examines how poverty and lack of education affect young, disadvantaged dads, with 68-75% being fathers by age 30. The issue explores solutions to reconnect disconnected dads to their children, improving child and family economic and emotional well-being.

SourceSAGE·JournalThe Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science·DateMay 23, 2011

Long-term poverty but not family instability affects children's cognitive development

UK researchers found that persistent poverty affects children's cognitive functioning at the age of five, while family instability does not have a significant impact. The study, based on data from 18,819 families in the UK, shows that children growing up in stable two-parent families have higher levels of cognitive ability than those i...

SourceBMJ Group·JournalJournal of Epidemiology and Community Health·DateApr 20, 2011

Child maltreatment investigations not associated with improvements in household risk factors

A study found that Child Protective Services (CPS) investigations for suspected child maltreatment are associated with increased household risk factors, including poverty and maternal depressive symptoms. However, CPS investigations were not linked to improvements in social support, family functioning, or common modifiable risk factors.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalArchives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine·DateOct 4, 2010

Saving rainforests may help reduce poverty

A new study by Georgia State University professor Paul J. Ferraro found that saving rainforests and protecting national parks reduced poverty in Costa Rica and Thailand in the long term. The research suggests conservation efforts may provide economic opportunities through tourism and infrastructure development.

SourceGeorgia State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 25, 2010

A report card on DFID: The Lancet calls for a post-election independent review to protect its successes and fix its problems

The Lancet Editorial praises DFID's global health successes, including education and undernutrition strategies, but criticizes intragovernmental tensions and fragmentation of responsibilities. The publication calls for a post-election independent review to address these issues and ensure the department's continued success.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateMar 18, 2010

The unequal world of health data

A lack of quantity and quality of health data from poor settings threatens global research, warns Peter Byass. Alternative strategies to improve health data representativeness are discussed.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateNov 23, 2009

Many US children may live in families receiving food stamps

According to a study, nearly half of all American children will reside in households receiving food stamps between ages 1 and 20. The analysis found that poverty and food insecurity are detrimental to a child's health, with the receipt of food stamps serving as a marker of both conditions.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalArchives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine·DateNov 2, 2009