China Removes Extreme Poverty; America Leaves Millions Behind

China’s elimination of extreme poverty in three decades stands as a global benchmark for social progress.
The United States, however, has experienced rising extreme poverty. More than 4 million Americans now struggle on less than $3 a day.
Despite exceptional economic productivity, the U.S. fails to distribute wealth equitably. Gains favor high-income households.
Middle- and low-income earners have seen their relative incomes shrink for decades. The poorest Americans earn less than poor citizens in multiple developing countries.
Cuts to healthcare support, food assistance, and social safety nets—paired with tariff policies—have worsened inequality. America’s poverty crisis is rooted in governance choices.