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A poverty of distinction

From economic homogeneity to cultural heterogeneity in the classification of poor people

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Abstract

Homogenizing the poor, treating them as a shapeless blob, is not only dehumanizing but also makes them candidates for a single set of public policies. We propose to show, instead, using cultural theory, that there are different types of poor people, who follow different strategies in coping with or overcoming their condition.

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Thompson, M., Wildavsky, A. A poverty of distinction. Policy Sci 19, 163–199 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02113494

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02113494

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