"Gregg Olsen brilliantly deconstructs the individualistic conceptions of poverty routinely rehearsed in academic studies and government reports. He shows that poverty is rooted in systemic dynamics of contemporary capitalism and that uprooting it requires broad change to the direction of economic democracy. Rigorously argued and researched, clearly and elegantly written, this book is a must-read for anyone concerned about an urgent and pressing issue of our time."
Joel Bakan, University of British Columbia
"For two decades Gregg Olsen has been one of my ‘go-to’ authors for understanding the source of social and health inequalities in Canada and elsewhere. In this book, Olsen turns his sharp eye to the poverty situation in Canada, the UK, and the US. In addition to documenting the sources and effects of public policies that create poverty, Olsen provides ways of transcending the problematic present."
Dennis Raphael, York University
"In bringing together the issues of poverty and homelessness, this book deals with two of the most pressing issues of our time. It combines rich historical detail with a clear focus on the future and what might be done to address these issues. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in how and why poverty persists in some of the wealthiest nations of the world."
Tracy Shildrick, Newcastle University
"Gregg Olsen has written a powerful book that clearly articulates the meanings of poverty, major theoretical accounts, and empirics across Canada, the UK, and the US. Highly accessible, rigorous, and erudite, this book is simply the best social science on poverty in contemporary liberal capitalist societies in years."
Larry W. Isaac, Vanderbilt University
"All countries could do better at reducing poverty if they had universal, generous, employment-supporting social programs. But Gregg Olsen shows us in this valuable book that even in nations with a modest welfare state, such as Canada, the UK, and the US, policy choices can make a big difference."
Lane Kenworthy, University of California, San Diego
"An extremely timely contribution and a truly impressive accomplishment. Gregg M. Olsen delivers a lucid and highly readable analysis of the causes, manifestations, and consequences of poverty and homelessness, examining what policies are most effective in the fight against poverty."
Gøsta Esping-Andersen, Bocconi University
"A profound and deeply humane book that shows the heavy price poor, marginalized, and homeless people have paid for neoliberal ’reforms.’ Olsen examines the depth, degree, duration, and distribution of poverty across welfare states and highlights measures that mitigate poverty and homelessness – measures that we can (and must) embrace."
Laureen Snider, Queens University
"A clear, convincing, and concise explanation of the causes of poverty in some of the most unequal, rich countries of the world. Accessible, authoritative, and aspirational. At some point, somewhere, the polices advocated here will be enacted. This is a book about our future as well as our past."
Danny Dorling, University of Oxford
"Olsen provides a masterful, comprehensive, and comparative perspective that will fundamentally change the poverty debate. Essential reading for students and scholars of social inequality and social policy."
David Brady, University of California, Riverside
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