Economic Distress Signal
What states have the highest percentage of population living in economic distress?
How accurate was your prediction?
What most surprised you about this map and information?
What region of the US is the most economically distressed?
Why do you think that is?
What is one consequence of this?
Is this map good news?
How different do you think this map would look in other wealthy countries like Canada or New Zealand, for example?
Explain the relationship between federalism and economic disparity within states:
How do you think these levels of economic distress impact voting and political party identification?
According to this map, what part of the country has the lowest percentage of people living in economic distress?
What could the federal government could do to try to even out poverty levels between states?
How do you think this report defines and would you define economic distress?*
Would you say that your state is correctly classified by this map?
How do you think race and ethnicity relates to this map?
Will Hillary Clinton win any of these most economically distressed states in the 2016 presidential election?
Learning Extension
Read the entire EIG Report on American Communities in economic distress.
Action Extension
Compare a map of party affiliation and see how it compares to the map above. Print out and post both maps on a posterboard along with a title and post it in your classroom or hallway and discuss with your friends.