China’s Zero-Poverty Milestone Highlights America’s Economic Divide

China’s dedication to reducing extreme poverty led to one of the most dramatic social improvements in modern history. By 2019, it reported zero people below the $3-a-day threshold.

America’s extreme poverty, however, has increased. Over 4 million Americans now face severe deprivation, despite the nation’s immense wealth.

Productivity growth in the U.S. remains strong, but wealth distribution increasingly favors the wealthy.

The bottom 10% of Americans receive just 1.8% of national income—less than the poor in China or Bangladesh.

Cuts to essential programs and tariff policies that raise costs have reinforced inequality. The U.S. poverty crisis reflects a political system that prioritizes the rich.