Haha, awesome that you actually crunched the numbers.
One reason the poor in US have EXTRA hard time getting out of poverty IMO is the requirement of a private car. If a poor American happens to lose use of a car (breakdown, gas price, etc), he/she immediately starts having hard time just getting to work. They could, but it takes 1-2 hr each way. The same commute would take half that time with a private car.
And don't forget they have to pick up kids, go to medical care, grocery shop, etc.
In other countries with well connected/cheap public transportation, no such barrier exists.
One reason the poor in US have EXTRA hard time getting out of poverty IMO is the requirement of a private car. If a poor American happens to lose use of a car (breakdown, gas price, etc), he/she immediately starts having hard time just getting to work. They could, but it takes 1-2 hr each way. The same commute would take half that time with a private car.
And don't forget they have to pick up kids, go to medical care, grocery shop, etc.
In other countries with well connected/cheap public transportation, no such barrier exists.