Shipler repeatedly makes the case that poverty is a “constellation of difficulties that magnify one another” (285), meaning that factors such as low wages, low educational and skill levels, and poor health are closely interlinked. Crucially, due to a lack of financial buffering, an unforeseen crisis—such as a malfunctioning car or a broken arm—may set a financially stable family back for a week, whereas it could cause longstanding difficulties for a poorer family. Meeting the needs of a child with learning difficulties, as in Caroline Payne’s case, means a complete change in address and employment, which eventually leaves her worse off.

The lives of the poor are not only precarious due to external crises, but also as a result of malpractices of people. Shipler likens poverty to a “bleeding wound […] [that] weakens the defenses” (18) of the poor. Loan sharks thrive in poor neighborhoods, where they charge interest on loans that help clients pay the bills. The immediate need for survival takes precedence even though taking out loans will greatly diminish a family’s income. Additionally, low levels of numeracy amongst the poor often mean that many of them are tempted by American consumer culture to spend more than they can afford.