(Feb. 21) – The current rate of poverty among the elderly is 9.8 percent, compared to 15.7 percent for those under age 65. But what about the future? The Social Security Administration projects that poverty rates will continue to decline for the elderly. 

(Feb. 18) – The barriers between domestic and global poverty work are falling fast. Partly that’s because the rest of the world has been closing the gap on the developed world.

(Feb. 18) – Many countries measure poverty using annualized survey data generated on the basis of a one-time “snapshot” of household consumption. 

(Feb. 17) – I have a routine: Some days I leave the Venice bungalow my husband, daughter and I rent for $3,000 a month and take a walk down to Abbot Kinney Boulevard to buy lunch. It comes out to $15 for a salad and $5 for a coffee. It’s too pricey, so I overtip, a penance for my indulgence.

(Feb. 17) – The single best weapon against poverty in America is a full-time job. In 2014 the poverty rate among married couples was 6 percent; the poverty rate among married couples who both have full-time jobs was 0.001 percent.

(Feb. 16) – In today’s sharply polarized politics, one might think that the governments of South Carolina and Connecticut couldn’t agree on anything. South Carolina, where presidential candidates are squaring off before the primary, has voted for the Republican candidate in nine straight presidential elections; Connecticut has voted for the Democratic candidate in six straight presidential elections.

(Feb. 16) – The Salvation Army is best known for offering charitable relief to those in poverty. But for years it has also kept meticulous records of how many people came through its doors, what sort of needs they had, and the cost of their relief.

(Feb. 16) – Announced last week, President Obama’s 2017 budget request makes considerable strides toward addressing issues that impact global poverty. But while the budget shows strong support for life-saving vaccines and polio eradication, it misses the mark on funding for clean water, sanitation, and global education, which are essential to ending extreme poverty.

(Feb. 16) – Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg wants to end poverty, but lately his approach is coming under fire. He’s called lifting 400 million out of poverty “perhaps one of the greatest things we can do in the world.” Zuckerberg regularly says that for every 10 people who gain Internet access, one person is raised out of poverty. Facebook launched Internet.org to seize these huge benefits for humanity.

(Feb. 15) – The United States ranks last among developed countries on issues of poverty and inequality, according to The Stanford Center on Poverty and Inequality’s third annual report. The report, released earlier this month, compared the U.S. to other countries in six key areas: employment, poverty, safety nets, wealth inequality, income inequality, wealth inequality and economic mobility.