Economic Recession and Coping with Poverty: A Case Study from Athens, Georgia

This article presents findings from a mixed-methods case study undertaken for the purpose of assessing the impact of the recent economic recession among individuals in Athens Georgia, a persistently poor mid-sized city in Southeastern United States. A literature review on how people cope with economic downturns and how neoliberal policies are affecting the well-being of individuals provides the setting for the study. Suggestions are offered toward policy matters and programs that can strengthen individuals' abilities to withstand difficult economic situations.