Includes bibliographical references (p. 97-100) and index.

Welfare reforms have been successful in helping America's poor / Jeff Jacoby -- Welfare reforms have not been a complete success / Katha Pollitt -- Government programs should be more tailored to America's poor / Margaret Simms -- Government welfare hurts society and does not benefit the poor / The Libertarian Party -- Education can help people out of poverty / Michelle Rhee -- Is education the cure for poverty? / Jared Bernstein -- Marriage reduces poverty / Robert Rector -- Marriage is not the answer to poverty / Polly Toynbee -- Raising the minimum wage will help the poor / Holly Sklar -- Wage regulation will not help the poor / Bill Barnes -- Capitalism is the cure for poverty / Robert Gelinas -- Unregulated capitalism exploits the poor / Barbara Ehrenreich -- Africa needs trade more than aid / William Easterly -- Microfinance can alleviate poverty / Daniel Howden.