Includes bibliographical references (pages [239]-361) and index.

Prologue -- Chapter 1. The kind of problem poverty is -- Chapter 2. Why haven't we made more progress? -- Chapter 3. How we undercut workers -- Chapter 4. How we force the poor to pay more -- Chapter 5. How we rely on welfare -- Chapter 6. How we buy opportunity -- Chapter 7. Invest in ending poverty -- Chapter 8. Empower the poor -- Chapter 9. Tear down the walls -- Epilogue.

"The United States, the richest country on earth, has more poverty than any other advanced democracy. Why? Why does this land of plenty allow one in every eight of its children to go without basic necessities, permit scores of its citizens to live and die on the streets, and authorize its corporations to pay poverty wages? In this landmark book, acclaimed sociologist Matthew Desmond draws on history, research, and original reporting to show how affluent Americans knowingly and unknowingly keep poor people poor." -- Provided by publisher.