Revisiting the disadvantaged: old lessons and new problems

A new look at the poverty-stricken reveals the following: they remain in their condition through self-perpetuating characteristics, they are different from the middle class, their social state is complex, they do act rationally and regulatory intervention is not the only solution. Also, the poor are usually single parents and their children, the definition of disadvantaged includes those who are physically handicapped, ethnic minorities and women, consumer behavior is different and the recession has handicapped the limited number of agencies able to somewhat alleviate the poor's state.