Final answer:
The Census Bureau's alternate poverty measure in 2011 included factors like taxes and medical costs to better estimate poverty levels, offering a more nuanced view than the International Poverty Line.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 2011, the Census Bureau introduced an alternative poverty measure based on a comprehensive assessment that included additional factors such as tax payments, work expenses, medical costs, and cost of living adjustments specific to geographic regions. This measure moved beyond traditional poverty thresholds, like the once-standard measure of living on less than $1.90 per day, which is referred to as the International Poverty Line. By accounting for these diverse influences, the measure aimed to provide a more accurate representation of economic hardship and the allocation of resources to reduce poverty.Poverty measures are essential for understanding the proportion of the population that falls below certain economic standards. This understanding impacts the development of policies aimed at reducing poverty rates. The Census Bureau's research into poverty provides crucial data that informs anti-poverty and anti-hunger programs, helping to address issues of inequality within a country.