The eradication of extreme poverty by the year 2015 was one of the millennium development goals that the United Nations member states committed to, during the signing of the United Nations Millennium Declaration. While many countries have made significant progress toward the attainment of the goal, many are still struggling with poverty. Approximately 10 percent of the global population live in extreme poverty while about 50 percent survive on less than $2.50 a day (Atkinson, 2019). This means that poverty is a global disaster and that a large percentage of the population has insufficient income or material possessions to satisfy their basic needs. Governments and non-governmental organizations do their best to fight poverty. However, more needs to be done, especially in developing countries where poor governance, corruption, and political instability impede the war against extreme poverty.
Measurements of Poverty
Poverty is defined as the inability to earn sufficient income and possess productive resources to sustain one’s livelihood. It manifests in various ways, including hunger, poor health, limited access to basic human needs, and social discrimination (Ravallion, 2016). The term “poverty” can be used differently, depending on the context. Absolute poverty is characterized by scarcity and suffering. People in this group barely have access to shelter, food, and decent housing (Mood & Jonsson, 2015). Relative poverty is viewed as a social construct, and therefore, it is a measure of income inequality. People in this group can meet their basic needs, but fail to fulfill the requirements for median income classification. Their earnings are insufficient for them to afford the average standard of living as defined in their society or country.
According to the World Bank’s 2017 statistics, more than 736 million people lived below the international poverty line, meaning that they survived on less than $1.9 a day (as cited in Atkinson, 2019). In 2018, approximately 8 percent of the working population lived in extreme poverty. Roughly 10 percent of the population cannot afford to meet their basic needs such as access to health care, proper sanitation, and education (Atkinson, 2019). Research studies conducted to evaluate the effect of conflict on poverty have revealed that by year 2030, approximately 75 percent of the world’s extremely poor population will be living in conflict-affected situations (Atkinson, 2019). This means that despite the ongoing efforts to eliminate severe poverty, the situation could deteriorate if governments do not address the issue of conflict and political instability.
Poverty is not only present in developing regions such as Africa and Asia, but also in developed countries such as the United States, France, and the United Kingdom. The US is a developed nation, and therefore wealthy, based on international standards. However, occurrences such as the Great Depression and the Great Recession have ensured that poverty constantly afflicts a portion of its population. For instance, 38 million Americans live in poverty, which means that their annual income falls below the $25,750 mark (Atkinson, 2019). The concept of poverty is defined differently in various societies, and is dependent primarily on one’s income level.
Causes of Poverty
The main causes of poverty include lack of education, inequality and marginalization, political instability, conflict, lack of infrastructure, and inadequate access to clean water and food. Political instability and conflict cause displacement that force people to abdicate their assets in search for peace. Moreover, wars lead to massive destruction of property and infrastructure. For example, around 70 percent of Syria’s population live in extreme poverty, even though poverty levels were very low prior to the conflicts (Mood & Jonsson, 2015). Gender, economic, and social inequality creates unequal access to resources, thus denying some people the opportunity to improve the quality of their lives. Lack of education is another cause of poverty. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) argues that the possessions of basic reading skills could help more than 170 million people to eradicate extreme poverty in their lives. Climate change is a critical issue that has adverse effects. For instance, it has the potential to cause flooding and drought, both of which can have adverse effects on agriculture (Mood & Jonsson, 2015). The World Bank has stated that climate change has the potential to push 100 million people into poverty in the next decade if mitigation measures are not put in place. Poor infrastructure limits access to healthcare facilities, markets, and social amenities, and isolates certain populations (Ravallion, 2016). Isolation limits access to opportunities, thus keeping people in poverty.
Poverty Reduction Measures
One of the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is the eradication of poverty in all its forms. In that regard, this will be attained through the mobilization of resources that will facilitate the implementation of programs and policies in order to promote poverty eradication. Poverty can be eradicated through the creation of sound policy frameworks that promote equal access to resources and opportunities for advancement (Heshmati, 2017). Equality and representation for all would ensure that all groups participate in decision-making processes and present their ideas on matters of national importance. Governments should invest more in infrastructure, increase access to education, and improve access to clean water, food, and security (Heshmati, 2017). Proper governance is another solution to ending poverty. This means the elimination of war, conflicts, and corruption, and the creation of jobs.
In developing economies, more engagement in trade, the creation and implementation of economic development policies, and increased access to education and health care are important. Studies have indicated that a 10 percent increase in a nation’s average income has the potential to alleviate poverty by about 20 percent (Heshmati, 2017). Trade is a key factor in the growth of any economy. Therefore, governments should enter into trade partnership with other countries, support local businesses that export products and services, and encourage direct foreign investment (Ravallion, 2016). In countries like the US, poverty can be eradicated by creating more employment opportunities, increasing access to health care, and fighting vices like racism, gender inequality, and sex-based discrimination. It is important for the government to ensure that all people enjoy equal access to resources and services (Heshmati, 2017). For example, limited access to medical care affects the productivity of the people, and thus, keeps poor people poor.
Conclusion
Poverty is a global challenge that has adverse effects. Billions of people live below the international poverty line and struggle to meet their basic needs. Many countries, especially in developing economies have made significant progress with regard to eradicating extreme poverty. However, more needs to be done because the situation could get worse if corruption, poor governance, and political instability persist. Poverty can be reduced through increased access to opportunities, resources, and social amenities, elimination of poor leadership, creation of more jobs, and the development of better infrastructure. Moreover, it is important for governments to facilitate trade, create and implement policies that promote equality, and provide quality health care and education to citizens.
References
Atkinson, A. B. (2019). Measuring poverty around the world. Princeton University Press.
Heshmati, A. (Ed.). (2017). Economic transformation for poverty reduction in Africa: A multidimensional approach. Taylor & Francis.
Mood, C., & Jonsson, J. O. (2015). “The social consequences of poverty: An empirical test on longitudinal data.” Social Indicators Research, 127(1), 633-652.
Ravallion, M. (2016). The economics of poverty: History, measurement, and policy. Oxford University Press.