Poverty lines are frequently used to mislead readers. Poverty percents across countries are compared without any reference to the fact that poverty lines in different countries might be different by a factor of ten or more. Furthermore, readers are often left in the dark as to whether the poverty lines are pre- or post-tax and pre- or post-transfers. The official U.S. poverty rate does not include tax breaks such as the EITC, or in kind transfers, like food stamps or Section 8 housing. Since both welfare and tax rates vary greatly between countries, this is vital information to be able to compare the living standards of the poor between countries.
https://twitter.com/rortybomb/status/717376334490693633
Text: The biggest declines in Chinese poverty were from 1980s to early 90s, well before it became a major trade player.
Well the problem with that is that the Chinese poverty line is based on $1 per day. Once…
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Utopia, you are standing in it! 
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