''The Working Poor: Invisible in America'' is a 2004 book written by Pulitzer Prize-winner David K. Shipler. From personal interviews and research, Shipler presents in this book anecdotes and life stories of individuals considered the working poor. Using their lives as examples, he illustrates the struggles the working poor face while attempting to escape poverty. Throughout the book, the author describes numerous economic issues preventing the working poor from escaping poverty. Shipler explores some flaws of

comparative advantage Comparative advantage in an economic model is the advantage over others in producing a particular Goods (economics), good. A good can be produced at a lower relative opportunity cost or autarky price, i.e. at a lower relative marginal cost prior t ...

s. One case is illustrated by clothing companies who hire contractors that hire illegal immigrants. The contractors pay employees below the minimum wage to work in low quality sweatshops for hours, exceeding the legal limit. ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'' review stated, "Mr. Shipler avoids saying anything too controversial and as a result his book seems unlikely to change minds on either the left or the right. ... Nonetheless, by exposing the wretched condition of these invisible Americans, he has performed a noble and badly needed service." The ''

San Francisco Chronicle The ''San Francisco Chronicle'' is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of Northern California. It was founded in 1865 as ''The Daily Dramatic Chronicle'' by teenage brothers Charles de Young and M. H. de Young, Michael H. ...

'' reviewer wrote, "Shipler is informative, sometimes outraged, and often eloquent in rendering the working poor visible", but also noted that "the author appears to hope for good will from above, within the system, to carry out his suggestions."

References

2004 non-fiction books American non-fiction books Books about poverty Alfred A. Knopf books {{labor-book-stub