Growth would be steady, economists in Washington promised, and poverty would decline.

According to this measure, poverty has declined significantly over the past 60 years and is 4.9% as of 2004.

On the other hand, many Republicans say poverty will decline as mothers move from welfare to work and fathers pay more child support.

Nationwide, prosperity increased during the decade; incomes rose and poverty in most places declined.

Under his leadership, poverty has declined from 58 to 42 percent in five years.

Still, he credits the program as one of two major reasons poverty has declined, the other being money sent home from Mexican workers in the north.

But, even on this measure, poverty did not decline in the 80's.

From the early 1990s to 2005, poverty declined from about 50 percent to 29 percent of the population.

Inequality is still very high, but poverty and unemployment have declined by a third.

Following the overhaul of the welfare system six years ago, poverty among single mothers with young children declined.