How a Work-Based Policy Package Can Reduce U.S. Poverty
Posted by Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity on January 20, 2026
A recent Spotlight exclusive looks at a recent Urban Institute micro-simulation of a work-based, anti-poverty package developed by the Community Advocates Public Policy Institute in Milwaukee. David Riemer, a senior fellow at the Institute, outlines the package’s seven major policies which he said would have a dramatic impact on the U.S. poverty rate while also increasing employment rolls. “This package would have cut the poverty rate in 2018 from 11.4% to 3.1%, a 73% reduction. That’s 27 million fewer poor people—and if you look at the policy package’s impact on the American population as a whole, it would increase the number above 200% of poverty by 51 million people. It’s a huge number,” said Riemer. “The policy package would increase the number of people who were employed by almost 7 million people.”
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