During the 1980s, around 13% of Americans in their 40s spent at least one year, below the poverty li
"During the 1980s, around 13% of Americans in their 40s spent at least one year, below the poverty line; in the 1990s, 36% of people in their 40s did.
Source: By Daniel A. Sandoval and Tomas A. Hirschl. New York Times May 8, 2006, a 14.