Asset Poverty

Why can't people go from owing to owning? While income inequality has been studied, a newer area of research is asset poverty: income consumed by expenses. With fewer available funds, families have less help when things go wrong; they have less power over what occurs; they have fewer opportunities. Two out of three families are asset poor, according to Dr. David Rothwell, assistant professor of public health and human sciences at Oregon State University. More than 30% of Oregonians experience asset poverty, creating divisions between the "haves" and "have nots." In this program, Dr. Rothwell discusses the reality of losing the American dream through asset poverty as well as possible avenues to get out of asset poverty. (This program was presented on Dec. 13, 2019)