Editor's Letter

Abstract

Editor-in-Chief Max J. Skidmore discusses Volume 5, Issue 1, of Poverty and Public Policy, the first issue of 2013. We were saddened to hear of the death of former U.S. Senator George S. McGovern, who died at the age of 90, on October 21, 2012. Senator McGovern's long career was dedicated to combatting conditions that are among the major contributors to poverty. He was the candidate of the Democratic Party for President of the United States in 1972, and lost overwhelmingly to President Richard M. Nixon, who was running for reelection. At the time, McGovern had long been an antiwar activist, and after his defeat he devoted much of the rest of his life to developing programs to feed the world's hungry. We will devote the next issue of Poverty and Public Policy to this extraordinary humanitarian and public servant, and will publish a tribute to him and his career. This issue's lead article is Daniel Gitterman's “Remaking a Bargain: The Political Logic of the Minimum Wage in the United States.” Prof. Gitterman's important work explores the dynamics of one of America's most important income-maintenance programs. The remaining articles originated as papers that were to have been presented at the 2012 annual meeting of the American Political Science Association in New Orleans. The Poverty, Inequality, and Public Policy Caucus's panel on Poverty and Public Policy, and the Policy Studies Organization's panel on Promoting the General Welfare, were the relevant panels. Papers from these panels would have been considered for the journal in any event, but the cancellation of the conference because of the threat from Hurricane Isaac made it more important that they be considered for publication. Although our normal process had to be modified somewhat, we were careful to ensure that those selected for publication were subject to peer review. The first of these articles is one reflecting international cooperation for its authorship; it examines the policies of “workfare” in the USA and Europe. “Changing Boundaries” is a joint study by Evelyn Brodkin of the University of Chicago and Flemming Larsen of Aalborg University in Denmark. Professors Elizabeth Wemlinger and Martha Kropf, both of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, then bring us the result of research inspired by census data demonstrating that poverty in the United States has worsened, especially for women. The authors seek to determine whether paths to participation and social capital are different for women who are poor, as compared to women who are not. Their article suggests new understandings regarding the creation of social capital. Professor Virginia Beard of Hope College is a keen student of homelessness. She continues to contribute to theory in “A Theoretical Understanding of Housing and Homelessness: Federal Homelessness and Housing Policy Through the Lenses of Punctuated Equilibrium Theory and Advocacy Coalition Frameworks.” The final article in volume 5, issue 1, explores the economic status of various politically active groups in the United States. Professor William Franko of Auburn University presents his findings regarding political power and the policy process in “Political Inequality and State Policy Adoption: Predatory Lending, Children's Health Care, and Minimum Wage.” As always, we seek thoughtful reviews of relevant books, and invite those who are interested in becoming reviewers to communicate with our Book Review Editor, Dr. Virginia Beard, at beard@hope.edu. Max J. Skidmore Editor-in-Chief University of Missouri–Kansas City