Problems of Poverty: An Inquiry into the Industrial Condition of the Poor

"Problems of Poverty: An Inquiry into the Industrial Condition of the Poor" by John A. Hobson is a study of the roots of poverty in industrialized nations during the late 1800s, exploring the economic and social systems that kept many people in poor living conditions. The book begins by stressing the importance of giving an exact definition and measurement for what poverty is, as it looks at the issues with legal definitions of poverty. Hobson uses statistics about the nation's wealth to show how unevenly it was spread among the social classes. Referencing studies, especially those done by Charles Booth, to show the depth of poverty specifically in cities like East London, he divides the working poor into groups based on things like how much they make and how they live, and looks at the underlying economic and social factors that play a role, trying to create a better understanding of poverty in industrial societies.