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The article discusses U.S. government statistics on poverty as of August 29, 1983. Attention is paid to the setting of a poverty level, the definition for hunger and malnutrition, as well as the negative impact of financial incentives for poor people resulting in their choice to stay poor. The influence of the politics of the Administration of President Ronald Reagan on the poor is also addressed.

The article looks at the taxation of private foundations in the U.S. as of July 1983, focusing on legislation restricting their financial activities and the possibility for its liberalization. The assets held by private foundations are compared to the sums they contribute to charities. The distribution of government grants among charities, the Task Force on Private Sector Initiatives established by U.S. President Ronald Reagan, and support for small private foundations are discussed.

The article looks at Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA) in the U.S. and demands by politicians and interest groups for the creation of similar accounts to finance housing, education, and vocational training as of July 1983. The mechanisms of proposed IRA-type savings accounts are presented. Forecasts by accounting analysts regarding the possibility for the introduction of such accounts and a study on IRAs by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York are also included.