近年来人们对下层阶级日渐引起注意,但在讨论上却存在着许多混乱。下层阶级的明确定义是没有的,但是有两种方法——阶级特征和生活方式——可以用来对它下定义。下层阶级可以根据经济安全和家庭稳定而分为四种类型:(1)稳定的贫民,是以经济与家庭的稳定为特征;(2)勉强过活者,象征经济安全而家庭不稳定。这是一个过渡的情况;(3)另杂贩卖者,表示经济不安全而家庭稳定;(4)生活不稳定者,在经济和个人方面都不稳定。通常所说的下层阶级大都是指这个集团。对待下层阶级的基本政策有三种:(1)直接的经济变动,如提供稳定的就业;(2)直接的服务,如加强个人的自我作用;(3)间接改变影响贫民区四周的社会、心理和政治的气候。贫民不是很快地衰落下去的;近平来收入和财富的不平等显著地有所增加。救济计划能维持许多穷人的生活,但是不能提供“福利国家”的标准。目前,美国的贫民在政治上比平时更为积极。变动中的美国经济,正在产生着新的财产关系;与此同时,也产生了新的劳动阶级和新的低收入的阶级。 In recent years, people have drawn increasing attention to the lower classes, but there has been much confusion in the discussion. There is no clear definition of the lower classes, but there are two ways - class characteristics and lifestyles - that can be used to define it. The lower classes can be divided into four types according to economic security and family stability: (1) Stable poor people are characterized by economic and family stability; (2) Those who barely live, a symbol of economic security and family instability. This is a transitional situation; (3) miscellaneous traffickers, indicating economic insecurity and family stability; and (4) destabilizing people, both economically and personally. Generally speaking, the lower class mostly refers to this group. There are three basic policies for treating the lower classes: (1) direct economic changes, such as providing stable employment; (2) direct services, such as enhancing individual self-esteem; (3) indirectly changing the social and psychological factors that affect the slum area And political climate. The poor did not decline very quickly; inequality in income and wealth in the near-term had increased notably. Relief programs can sustain the lives of many poor but do not provide the “welfare state” standard. At present, the poor in the United States are politically active more than usual. The changing U.S. economy is generating new property relations. At the same time, new working classes and new low-income classes have also emerged.