Sources, stigmatization, and alleviation of poverty in Albany/Dougherty, Georgia

Abstract

The objective of this study is to highlight the impacts of and solutions to the major sources of poverty in the City of Albany and Dougherty County, Georgia. White, as well as Black middle class residents, are leaving the City of Albany and Dougherty County to the other Albany MSA counties that are experiencing increase in commercial activities and median family incomes. This movement seems to reflect increasing City vices and very low educational achievements from the public school system. These along with a low consideration of the county for professional careers, lead to depressed business opportunities that cause exit of businesses. Cautiously speaking, depressed employment and a low real average weekly wage earning, a proxy for poverty, explain the poverty. There is a need for specialized micro financial lending especially in the impoverished areas of the county. Poverty is being addressed by some temporary measures. In the long run, individuals' understanding of how market economy works would resolve poverty. © 2012 The Clute Institute.