The Persistence of Poverty: Karelis vs. Six Standard Stories (Part 3)

After you read Karelis on the behavioral causes of poverty, you’ll probably assume he’s some sort of social conservative.  If you have the patience to hear him out, however, you’ll discover that he’s one of a kind; no earlier thinker ever thought what Karelis thinks.

Skeptical?  After discussing how the poor make themselves poor, Karelis’ next task is to examine the leading left- and right-wing explanations for persistent poverty.  He breaks them into three “dysfuction” theories and three no...