The Effect of Race/Ethnicity, Health Status and Socioeconomic Variables on Poverty in the U.S.

Despite an overall decline in poverty rates the last 20 years, there persists major differences in poverty levels amongst minority racial and ethnic groups compared to the majority group. I study the poverty level of four different minority races and ethnicities and compare it to the poverty levels of white Americans. Additionally, I study the poverty level of individuals of poor health and compare it to those of fair, good, very good, or excellent health to determine whether such differences pertain to discrimination in both the labor and health care markets. To determine this, My sample is a cross-section from the IPUMS Health Surveys: National Health Interview Surveys (NHIS)