Answer :
Guillermo is experiencing relative poverty, indicating he can't maintain an average standard of living despite full-time employment. This situation represents the broader issue of the working poor in the United States, where income is insufficient for an average lifestyle.
Guillermo is living in relative poverty. This is a state of poverty where, despite working full-time hours, he is unable to maintain an average standard of living due to income insufficient for his country's lifestyle norms. Relative poverty is a way to understand and measure poverty based on the economic status of other citizens in the same country, often indicating a disparity between income and the cost of living.
In societies like the United States, the issue of relative poverty is significant because it reflects the gap between the working poor and an average lifestyle. The term working poor is crucial here as it describes individuals who are employed but still fall below their nation's poverty line, struggling to afford essential goods and services that would enable an average standard of living. This is contrasted with absolute poverty, which refers to a lack of fundamental food, shelter, and clothing necessary for survival, more commonly found in underdeveloped countries.
To further illustrate this, the Bureau of Labor Statistics specifies certain conditions that classify someone as working poor, indicating that full-time work may not always safeguard against poverty. Educational attainment, employment status (full-time or part-time), and family composition can impact a person's likelihood of falling into this category. Indeed, the statistics show a troubling picture, where over 10 million Americans were considered working poor in 2009, reflecting a disturbing trend that being employed does not necessarily equate to financial security.
