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Poverty in the Texas borderland and lower Mississippi Delta: A comparative analysis of differences by family type

Author

Listed:
  • Tim Slack

    (Louisiana State University)

  • Joachim Singelmann

    (Louisiana State University)

  • Kayla Fontenot

    (Louisiana State University)

  • Dudley L. Poston

    (Texas A&M University)

  • Rogelio Saenz

    (University of Texas at San Antonio)

  • Carlos Siordia

    (West Virginia University)

Abstract

We provide a comparative analysis of county-level poverty in the two poorest regions of the United States - the Texas Borderland and the Lower Mississippi Delta - with a special focus on differences by family type. Our results reveal important regional variation in both the prevalence of poverty and the composition of the poor population across major family types. Using OLS regression models of family type-specific poverty we demonstrate three key findings: 1) There are no significant regional differences in poverty levels by family type between the Borderland and the Delta, net of important structural factors that characterize the regions; 2) with the exception of the employment rate, the structural factors associated with poverty among married couple and single female-headed families are quite different; and 3) paradoxically, areas in the Borderland with high in-migration are especially likely to suffer from high married-couple family poverty. Our results suggest the need for regionally targeted and demographically tailored anti-poverty policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Tim Slack & Joachim Singelmann & Kayla Fontenot & Dudley L. Poston & Rogelio Saenz & Carlos Siordia, 2009. "Poverty in the Texas borderland and lower Mississippi Delta: A comparative analysis of differences by family type," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 20(15), pages 353-376.
    • Handle: RePEc:dem:demres:v:20:y:2009:i:15
    DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2009.20.15
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Crowley, Martha L. & Lichter, Daniel T. & Qian, Zhenchao, 2005. "Beyond Gateway Cities: Economic Restructuring And Poverty Among Mexican Immigrant Families And Children," Working Papers 18906, Oregon State University, Rural Poverty Research Center (RPRC).
    2. David Yoskowitz & James Giermanski & Rolando Pena-Sanchez, 2002. "The Influence of NAFTA on Socio-economic Variables for the US-Mexico Border Region," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 36(1), pages 25-31.
    3. Allen-Smith, Joyce E. & Wimberley, Ronald C. & Morris, Libby V., 2000. "America's Forgotten People and Places: Ending the Legacy of Poverty in the Rural South," Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 32(2), pages 319-329, August.
    4. Rupasingha, Anil & Goetz, Stephan J., 2007. "Social and political forces as determinants of poverty: A spatial analysis," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 36(4), pages 650-671, August.
    5. William Levernier & Mark D. Partridge & Dan S. Rickman, 2000. "The Causes of Regional Variations in U.S. Poverty: A Cross‐County Analysis," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(3), pages 473-497, August.
    6. Allen-Smith, Joyce E. & Wimberley, Ronald C. & Morris, Libby V., 2000. "America'S Forgotten People And Places: Ending The Legacy Of Poverty In The Rural South," Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Southern Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 32(2), pages 1-11, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Corey Sparks & Joey Campbell, 2014. "An Application of Bayesian Methods to Small Area Poverty Rate Estimates," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 33(3), pages 455-477, June.
    2. Regina Baker, 2019. "Why is the American South Poorer?," LIS Working papers 778, LIS Cross-National Data Center in Luxembourg.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    poverty; family structure; Mississippi Delta; persistent poverty; regional poverty; Texas;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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