Gov. Gavin Newsom is fond of comparing California’s economy to those of other states, particularly arch-rivals Texas and Florida, and even other nations.
Unsurprisingly, however, there was no braggadocio from the governor’s office Tuesday when California found itself in a No. 1 economic position — having, once again, the nation’s highest level of poverty.
Actually, California’s official poverty number, as calculated by the Census Bureau for the 2021-23 window, was not terrible at 11.7% of its nearly 40 million residents, just slightly higher than the 11.4% national figure. But the official percentage, calculated by a formula that hasn’t changed in decades and assumes the underlying economic conditions are the same everywhere, is widely rejected by academics.
Responding to criticism, some years ago the Census Bureau developed a “supplemental measure” that takes into account a broader array of factors , most importantly the cost of living. And it’s California’s supplemental poverty score — 15.4% over the three years — that sets the state apart.