Poverty declines - but why?

L.A. and other large Socal cities saw a drop in both central-city and suburban poverty rates over the period between 1999 and 2005. Good news, right? Well, not if the reason has more to do with poor families just leaving town. A report by the Brookings Institute shows that the strength of higher-wage construction and professional service jobs, along with out-migration of low-income families, explains the decrease in poverty. Within Socal, the L.A.-Long Beach-Santa Ana MSA had the largest decline - from 16.2 percent in 1999 to 14.5 percent in 2005. Report is courtesy of the L.A. County Economic Development Corp.