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Argumentative Paper: Poverty in The United States

Categories: Poverty in America

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Published: Mar 16, 2024

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Root causes of poverty, impact on individuals and society, potential solutions.

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390 Poverty Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

📑 Aspects to Cover in a Poverty Essay

Students who learn economics, politics, and social sciences are often required to write a poverty essay as part of their course. While everyone understands the importance of this topic, it can be hard to decide what to write about. Read this post to find out the aspects that you should cover in your essay on poverty.

🏆 Best Poverty Topics & Free Essay Examples

👍 powerful topics on poverty and inequality, 🎓 simple & easy topics related to poverty, 📌 interesting poverty essay examples, ⭐ strong poverty-related topics, 🥇 unique poverty topics for argumentative essay, ❓ research questions about poverty.

Topics related to poverty and inequality might seem too broad. There are so many facts, factors, and aspects you should take into consideration. However, we all know that narrowing down a topic is one of the crucial steps when working on an outline and thesis statement. You should be specific enough to select the right arguments for your argumentative essay or dissertation. Below, you will find some aspects to include in your poverty essay.

Poverty Statistics

First of all, it would be beneficial to include some background information on the issue. Statistics on poverty in your country or state can help you to paint a picture of the problem. Look for official reports on poverty and socioeconomic welfare, which can be found on government websites. While you are writing this section, consider the following:

What is the overall level of poverty in your country or state?
Has the prevalence of poverty changed over time? If yes, how and why?
Are there any groups or communities where poverty is more prevalent than in the general population? What are they?

Causes of Poverty

If you look at poverty essay titles, the causes of poverty are a popular theme among students. While some people may think that poverty occurs because people are lazy and don’t want to work hard, the problem is much more important than that. Research books and scholarly journal articles on the subject with these questions in mind:

Why do some groups of people experience poverty more often than others?
What are the historical causes of poverty in your country?
How is poverty related to other social issues, such as discrimination, immigration, and crime?
How do businesses promote or reduce poverty in the community?

Consequences of Poverty

Many poverty essay examples also consider the consequences of poverty for individuals and communities. This theme is particularly important if you study social sciences or politics. Here are some questions that may give you ideas for this section:

How is the psychological well-being of individuals affected by poverty?
How is poverty connected to crime and substance abuse?
How does poverty affect individuals’ access to high-quality medical care and education?
What is the relationship between poverty and world hunger?

Government Policies

Governments of most countries have policies in place to reduce poverty and help those in need. In your essay, you may address the policies used in your state or country or compare several different governments in terms of their approaches to poverty. Here is what you should think about:

What are some examples of legislation aimed at reducing poverty?
Do laws on minimum wage help to prevent and decrease poverty? Why or why not?
How do governments help people who are poor to achieve higher levels of social welfare?
Should governments provide financial assistance to those in need? Why or why not?

Solutions to Poverty

Solutions to poverty are among the most popular poverty essay topics, and you will surely find many sample papers and articles on this subject. This is because poverty is a global issue that must be solved to facilitate social development. Considering these questions in your poverty essay conclusion or main body will help you in getting an A:

What programs or policies proved to be effective in reducing poverty locally?
Is there a global solution to poverty that would be equally effective in all countries?
How can society facilitate the reduction of poverty?
What solutions would you recommend to decrease and prevent poverty?

Covering a few of these aspects in your essay will help you demonstrate the in-depth understanding and analysis required to earn a high mark. Before you start writing, have a look around our website for more essay titles, tips, and interesting topics!

Poverty Research Proposal To justify this, the recent and most current statistics from the Census Bureau shows that the level and rate of poverty in USA is increasing, with minority ethnic groups being the most disadvantaged.
Wordsworth’s Vision of Childhood in His Poems “We Are Seven” and “Alice Fell or Poverty” Specifically, the joint publication he released in 1798 known as “Lyrical Ballads” are considered the most important publications in the rise of the Romantic literature in the UK and Europe.
Poverty: A Sociological Imagination Perspective I was raised in a nuclear family, where my mum was a housewife, and my father worked in a local hog farm as the overall manager.
“The Singer Solution to World Poverty” by Peter Singer The article “The Singer Solution to World Poverty” by author Peter Singer attempts to provide a workable solution to the world poverty problem.
Poverty in the World In this paper, we will be looking at the situation of poverty in the world, its causes and the efforts of the international organizations to manage the same.
The Philippines’ Unemployment, Inequality, Poverty However, despite the strong emphasis of the government on income equality and poverty reduction along with the growth of GDP, both poverty and economic and social inequality remain persistent in the Philippines.
The End of Poverty Philippe Diaz’s documentary, The End of Poverty, is a piece that attempts to dissect the causes of the huge economic inequalities that exist between countries in the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere.
Poverty in India and China India’s slow rate of poverty reduction compared to China is due to the differences in their approach to the economy. Improving the living conditions and general well being of the people is not only the […]
Poverty in Africa These pictures have been published online to show the world the gravity of the poverty situation in the African continent. The pictures represent the suffering of majority of the African people as a result of […]
Poverty Areas and Effects on Juvenile Delinquency The desire to live a better life contributes to the youths engaging in crimes, thus the increase in cases of juvenile delinquencies amid low-income families. The studies indicate that the fear of poverty is the […]
Poverty Effects on Child Development and Schooling To help children from low-income families cope with poverty, interventions touching in the child’s development and educational outcomes are essential. Those programs campaign against the effects of poverty among children by providing basic nutritional, academic, […]
Max Weber’s Thoughts on Poverty Weber has contributed to the exploration of the origins of poverty and the impact of religions on the attitude to it.
Analysis of Theodore Dalrymple’s “What Is Poverty?” With ethical arguments from Burnor, it can be argued that Dalrymple’s statements are shallow and based on his values and not the experience of those he is judging.
The Singer Solution to World Poverty: Arguments Against The article compares the lives of people in the developed world represented by America and that of developing world represented by Brazil; It is about a school teacher who sells a young boy for adoption […]
What Causes Poverty in the World One of the major factors that have contributed to poverty in given areas of the world is overpopulation. Environmental degradation in many parts of the world has led to the increase of poverty in the […]
Poverty and the Environment The human population affects the environment negatively due to poverty resulting to environmental degradation and a cycle of poverty. Poverty and the environment are interlinked as poverty leads to degradation of the environment.
Community Work: Helping People in Poverty The first project would be water project since you find that in most villages water is a problem, hence $100 would go to establishing this project and it’s out of these water then the women […]
Relationship Between Crime Rates and Poverty This shows that the strength of the relationship between the crime index and people living below the line of poverty is.427.
Children Living in Poverty and Education The presence of real subjects like children is a benefit for the future of the nation and a free education option for poor families to learn something new and even use it if their children […]
Is Poverty a Choice or a Generational Curse? The assumption that poverty is a choice persists in public attitudes and allows policy-makers to absolve themselves of any responsibility for ensuring the well-being of the lower socioeconomic stratum of society.
Poverty and Global Food Crisis: Food and Agriculture Model Her innovative approach to the issue was to measure food shortages in calories as opposed to the traditional method of measuring in pounds and stones.
Cause and Effect of Poverty For example, the disparities in income and wealth are considered as a sign of poverty since the state is related to issues of scarcity and allocation of resources and influence.
The Problem of Poverty in Bob Marley’s “No Woman, No Cry” To see the situation from the perspective of its social significance, it is necessary to refer to Mills’ concept of sociological imagination and to the division of problems and issues into personal and social ones.
Poverty Alleviation and Sustainable Development The research focuses on the causes of poverty and the benefits of poverty alleviation in achieving sustainable development. One of the causes of poverty is discrimination and social inequality.
Poverty Simulation Reflection and Its Influence on Life Something that stood out to me during the process is probably the tremendous emotional and psychological impact of poverty on a person’s wellbeing.
The Connection Between Poverty and Mental Health Problems The daily struggle to earn a daily bread takes a toll on an individual mental health and contributes to mental health problem.
Third World Countries and the Barriers Stopping Them to Escape Poverty The phrase Third World was initially used in the Cold War period to represent those countries that were neither on the West NATO nations referred to as the first world countries, nor on the East-Communist […]
Consumerism: Affecting Families Living in Poverty in the United States Hence, leading to the arising of consumerism protection acts and policies designed to protect consumers from dishonest sellers and producers, which indicates the high degree of consumer’s ignorance, and hence failure to make decisions of […]
Global Poverty: Famine, Affluence, and Morality In the article Famine, Affluence, and Morality, Michael Slote contends that rich people have a moral obligation to contribute more to charities.
Poverty in Bambara’s The Lesson and Danticat’s A Wall of Fire Rising It is important to note the fact that culture-based poverty due to discrimination of the past or political ineffectiveness of the nation can have a profound ramification in the lives of its victims.
Environmental Degradation and Poverty It is however important to understand the causes of the environmental degradation and the ways to reduce them, which will promote the improvement of the environmental quality.
Poverty in Urban Areas The main reason for escalation of the problem of poverty is urban areas is because the intricate problems of urban poverty are considered too small to attract big policies.
Health, Poverty, and Social Equity: The Global Response to the Ebola Outbreak Canada and Australia, as well as several countries in the Middle East and Africa, were the most active proponents of this ban, halting the movements for both people and goods from states affected by the […]
Poverty and Diseases A usual line of reasoning would be that low income is the main cause of health-related problems among vulnerable individuals. Such results that the relationship between mental health and poverty is, in fact, straightforward.
“The End of Poverty” by Phillipe Diaz In the film End of Poverty, the filmmaker tries to unravel the mystery behind poverty in the world. The film is arranged in such a way that the author has persuasively argued his case that […]
Social Issues of Families in Poverty With the tightened budget, parents of the families living in poverty struggle to make ends meet, and in the course of their struggles, they experience many stresses and depressions.
We Can Stop Poverty in Ghana Today One of the main disadvantages of the document is that the problem of poverty is not considered separately, but only as a part of other economic and social problems.
Poverty in Rural and Urban Areas My main focus is on articles explaining the sources of poverty in rural and urban areas and the key difference between the two.
Reflective Analysis of Poverty It can be further classified into absolute poverty where the affected do not have the capability to make ends meet, and relative poverty which refer to the circumstances under which the afflicted do not have […]
Poverty Through a Sociological Lens Poverty-stricken areas, such as slums, rural villages, and places hit by disasters, lack the required economic activities to improve the employment and wealth status of the people.
Global Poverty: The Ethical Dilemma Unfortunately, a significant obstacle to such global reforms is that many economic systems are based on the concept of inequality and exploitation.
Concept of Poverty The main difference between this definition and other definitions of poverty highlighted in this paper is the broad understanding of the concept.
Social Issues; Crime and Poverty in Camden This has threatened the social security and peaceful coexistence of the people in the community. The larger the differences between the poor and the rich, the high are the chances of crime.
The Myth of the Culture of Poverty Unfortunately, rather all of the stereotypes regarding poor people are widespread in many societies and this has served to further increase the problem of generational poverty. Poor people are regarded to be in the state […]
Dependency Theory and “The End of Poverty?” It is also reflected in the film “The End of Poverty?” narrating the circumstances of poor countries and their precondition. It started at the end of the fifteenth century and marked the beginning of the […]
Poverty, Government and Unequal Distribution of Wealth in Philippines The author of the book Poverty And The Critical Security Agenda, Eadie, added: Quantitative analyses of poverty have become more sophisticated over the years to be sure, yet remain problematic and in certain ways rooted […]
Tourism Contribution to Poverty Reduction Managers usually make targeting errors such as poor delivery of tourism benefits to the poor and accruing tourism benefit to the rich in the society.
Is Globalization Reducing Poverty and Inequality? & How to Judge Globalism The article Is Globalization Reducing Poverty and Inequality by Robert Hunter Wade explores the phenomenon of globalization and its influence on the poverty and inequality ratios all over the world.
Analysis of a Social Problem: Poverty Furthermore, the World Bank predicts that both the number of people and the percentage of the population living in extreme poverty will increase in 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Poverty in Orwell’s “Down and Out in Paris and London” The fact that the structure of society is discussed is especially interesting, and it is suggested that opinions of people that live in poverty are not acknowledged most of the time.
Poverty: $2.00 a Day in America When conversations about the poor occur in the city of Washington, they usually discuss the struggles of the working poor, forgetting about the issues that the non-working poor face day by day.
Poverty as Capability Deprivation In this paper, the importance of social justice manifests through the understanding of social deprivation, as opposed to the understanding of income levels in the achievement of social justice.
Poverty in the Bronx: Negative Effects of Poverty South Bronx is strictly the southwestern part of the borough of Bronx and Bronx is the only borough in New York city in the mainland.
Social Work at Acacia Network: Poverty and Inequality Around the 1980s, the number of older adults was significantly increasing in society; the local government of New York established a home for the aged and was named Acacia Network. The supporting staff may bond […]
Economic Growth vs. Development: Dreze and Sen’s Analysis The majority of the poor people in the slums and villages use small capital to run their businesses. Good institutions enforce the property rights of the majority in the society, create constraints for the elites, […]
Fight Poverty, Fight Illiteracy in Mississippi Initiative What is required is a commitment of the members to voice the concerns of the population to the US government to take actions that are aimed at ensuring that policies are put in place to […]
How Poverty Contributes to Poor Heath The results show that poverty is the main cause of poor health. The study was purposed to assess the effect of poverty in determining the health status of households.
Global Poverty Project: A Beacon of Hope in the Fight Against Extreme Poverty The organization works with partners worldwide to increase awareness and understanding of global poverty and inspire people to take action to end it.
The Causes of an Increase in Poverty in Atlanta, Georgia The key causes of the high poverty rise in the city include housing policies and instabilities, the lack of transit services and public transportation infrastructure in suburban areas, and childhood poverty.
Thistle Farms: Help for Women Who Are Affected by Poverty As I said in the beginning, millions of women need help and assistance from the community to overcome poverty and heal emotional wounds caused by abuse. You can purchase a variety of its home and […]
Median Household Incomes and Poverty Levels The patterns of poverty in the Denver urban area show that rates are higher in the inner suburb and the core city and lower in the outer suburb.
Poverty: The American Challenge One of the main problems in the world is the problem of poverty, which means the inability to provide the simplest and most affordable living conditions for most people in a given country.
The Poverty Issue From a Sociological Perspective The core of the perspective is the idea that poverty is a system in which multiple elements are intertwined and create outcomes linked to financial deficits.
Saving the Planet by Solving Poverty The data is there to make the necessary links, which are needed when it comes to the economic variations and inadequate environmental impacts of climate change can be distinguished on a worldwide scale.
Anti-Poverty Programs From the Federal Government The programs provide financial assistance to low-income individuals and families to cover basic needs like housing and food. The anti-poverty programs that have been most effective in reducing poverty rates in the United States are […]
Rural Development, Economic Inequality and Poverty The percentage of the rural population is lower for developed countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom. Thus, the objective of the proposal is to determine how the inhabitants of the country in […]
Global Poverty: Ways of Combating For example, one of such initiatives is social assistance and social protection programs, which ensure the safety and creation of various labor programs that will help increase the number of the working population.
Poverty and Homelessness as a Global Social Problem What makes the task of defining poverty particularly difficult is the discrepancy in the distribution of social capital and, therefore, the resulting differences in the understanding of what constitutes poverty, particularly, where the line should […]
Poverty: Aspects of Needs Assessment The target neighborhood and population for the following analysis are women of reproductive age, defined as 15 to 49 years, in Elmhurst and Corona, Queens. 2, and the percentage of births to women aged over […]
What Is Poverty in the United States? Estimates of the amount of income required to meet necessities serve as the foundation for both the official and supplemental poverty measurements.
The Caribbean Culture: Energy Security and Poverty Issues Globally, Latin American and the Caribbean also has the most expensive energy products and services because of fuel deprivation in the Caribbean and the Pacific regions.
Poverty: The Main Causes and Factors Because of the constant process of societal development, the concept of poverty changes rapidly, adapting to the new standards of modern human life.
How to Overcome Poverty and Discrimination As such, to give a chance to the “defeated” children and save their lives, as Alexie puts it, society itself must change the rules so that everyone can have access to this ticket to success. […]
Poverty and Homelessness in American Society It is connected with social segregation, stigmatization, and the inability of the person to improve their conditions of life. The problem of affordable housing and poverty among older adults is another problem that leads to […]
Private Sector’s Role in Poverty Alleviation in Asia The ambition of Asia to become the fastest-growing economic region worldwide has led to a rapid rise of enterprises in the private sector.
Connection of Poverty and Education The economy of the United States has been improving due to the efforts that have been made to ensure that poverty will not prevent individuals and families from having access to decent education.
The Opportunity for All Program: Poverty Reduction The limiting factors of the program may be the actions of the population itself, which will not participate in the employment program because of the realized benefits.
Early Childhood Financial Support and Poverty The mentioned problem is a direct example of such a correlation: the general poverty level and the well-being of adults are connected with the early children’s material support.
Discussion: Poverty and Healthcare One of the research questions necessary to evaluate this issue is “How do ethical theories apply to the issue?” Another critical research question worth exploring is “Which cultural values and norms influence the problem?” These […]
Explosive Growth of Poverty in America The three richest Americans now own 250 billion USD, approximately the same amount of combined wealth as the bottom 50 percent of the country. Wealth inequality is a disturbing issue that needs to be at […]
The Poverty and Education Quality Relationship Although the number of people living under the poverty threshold has decreased in the last 30 years, more than 800,000,000 people still have to live with insufficient money and a lack of food, water, and […]
The Problems of Poverty and Hunger Subsequently, the cause in this case serves as a path to a solution – more social programs are needed, and wealthy citizens should be encouraged to become beneficiaries for the hungry.
“Life on a Shoestring – American Kids Living in Poverty” by Claycomb Life on a Shoestring – American Kids Living in Poverty highlights the widening disparity between the poor and the wealthy in America and how the economic systems are set up to benefit the rich and […]
Decreasing Poverty With College Enrollment Program In order to achieve that, it is necessary, first and foremost, to increase the high school students’ awareness of the financial aid programs, possibilities of dual enrollment, and the overall reality of higher education.
Reducing Poverty in the North Miami Beach Community The proposed intervention program will focus on the students in the last semester of the 9th and 10th grades and the first semester of the 11th and 12th grades attending the client schools.
Food Banks Board Members and Cycle of Poverty What this suggests is that a large portion of the leadership within these collectives aim to provide assistance and food but not to challenge the current system that fosters the related issues of poverty, unemployment, […]
Poverty as a Social Problem in Burundi The rationale for studying poverty as a social problem in Burundi is that it will help to combat poverty through the advocacy plan at the end of this paper.
Poverty: Subsidizing Programs Subsidizing programs are considered welfare and net initiatives that the government takes to aid low-income families and individuals affected by poverty.
The Problem of Poverty in Chad Thus, the study of the causes of poverty in the Republic of Chad will help to form a complete understanding of the problem under study and find the most effective ways to solve it.
“Poverty, Toxic Stress, and Education…” Study by Kelly & Li Kelly and Li are concerned with the lack of research about poverty and toxic stress affecting the neurodevelopment of preterm children.
Poverty in “A Modest Proposal” by Swift The high number of children born to poor families presents significant problems for a country.”A Modest Proposal” is a satirical essay by Jonathan Swift that proposes a solution to the challenge facing the kingdom.
Life Below the Poverty Line in the US The major problem with poverty in the US is that the number of people living below the poverty threshold is gradually increasing despite the economic growth of the country. SNAP is not considered to be […]
The Relationship Between Single-Parent Households and Poverty The given literature review will primarily focus on the theoretical and empirical aspects of the relationship between single-parent households and poverty, as well as the implications of the latter on mental health issues, such as […]
Aspects of Social Work and Poverty In terms of work principle, both the poor working and the welfare poor have it to varying degrees, but it does not help them much because the only employment available is low paying and leads […]
Poverty and Its Effect on Adult Health Poverty in the UK is currently above the world average, as more than 18% of the population lives in poverty. In 2020, 7% of the UK population lived in extreme poverty and 11% lived in […]
Child Poverty in the United States The causes of child poverty in the United States cannot be separated from the grounds of adult poverty. Thus, it is essential to take care of the well-being of children living in poverty.
Poverty in New York City, and Its Reasons The poverty rate for seniors in New York is twice the poverty rate in the United States. New York City’s blacks and Hispanics have a much higher poverty rate than whites and Asians in the […]
“The Hidden Reason for Poverty…” by Haugen It is also noteworthy that some groups of people are specifically vulnerable and join the arrays of those living in poverty.
Juvenile Violent Crime and Children Below Poverty The effect of this trend is that the number of children below poverty will continue to be subjected to the juvenile and criminal justice systems.
Poverty and Homelessness as Social Problem The qualifications will include a recommendation from the community to ensure that the person is open to help and willing to be involved in the neighborhood of Non-Return.
Discussion of the Problem of the Poverty To help prevent homelessness for the woman in question and her children, I think it would be essential to provide mental support for her not to turn to alcohol and drugs as a coping mechanism.
Poverty Effects and How They Are Handled Quality jobs will provide income to the younger people and women in the community. The focus on developing and facilitating small and medium-sized enterprises is a great strategy but more needs to be done in […]
Feminization of Poverty and Governments’ Role in Solving the Problem However, women form the greatest percentage of the poor, and the problem continues to spread. Furthermore, the public supports available are inaccessible and inadequate to cater for women’s needs.
Free-Trade Policies and Poverty Level in Bangladesh The purpose of this paper is to examine the way in which the end of the quota system and introduction of a free-trade system for the garment industry in Bangladesh has impacted on poverty in […]
Poverty and Risks Associated With Poverty Adolescents that are at risk of being malnourished can be consulted about the existing programs that provide free food and meals to families in poverty.
Poverty and Inequality Reduction Strategies Thus, comprehending the causes of poverty and inequalities, understanding the role of globalization, and learning various theoretical arguments can lead to the establishment of appropriate policy recommendations.
International Aid – Poverty Inc This film, the research on the impact of aid on the states receiving it, and the economic outcomes of such actions suggest that aid is a part of the problem and not a solution to […]
Poverty Effects on American Children and Adolescents The extent to which poor financial status influences the wellbeing of the young children and adolescents is alarming and needs immediate response from the community.
Progress and Poverty Book by Henry George George wrote the book following his recognition that poverty is the central puzzle of the 20th century. Thus, George’s allegation is inconsistent with nature because the number of living organisms can increase to the extent […]
Vicious Circle of Poverty in Brazil The vicious circle of poverty is “a circular constellation of forces that tend to act and react on each other in such a way that the country in poverty maintains its poor state”.
Global Education as the Key Tool for Addressing the Third World Poverty Issue Global education leads to improvements in the state economy and finances. Global education helps resolve the unemployment problem.
Poverty, Partner Abuse, and Women’s Mental Health In general, the study aimed at investigating the interaction between poverty and the severity of abuse in women. The research question being studied in this article is how income intersects with partner violence and impacts […]
America’s Shame: How Can Education Eradicate Poverty The primary focus of the article was global poverty, the flaws in the educational system, as well as the U.S.government’s role in resolving the problem.
Global Poverty and Ways to Overcome It These are some of the strategies, the subsequent application of which would significantly reduce the level of poverty around the world.
Poverty and Sex Trafficking: Qualitative Systematic Review The proposed research question is to learn how the phenomenon of poverty is connected to sex trafficking. To investigate the relationship between the phenomenon of poverty and sex trafficking.
Political Economy: Relationship Between Poverty, Inequality, and Nationalism The prevalence of nationalism leads to changes in the education system, as the government tries to justify the superiority of the country by altering the curriculum.
End of Extreme Poverty Importantly, the ability to remain the owners of a substantial amount of accumulated wealth is the primary motivation for such individuals.
Poverty and Inequality in the US Despite the progress of civilization and the establishment of democratic values, in the modern United States, such problems as poverty and inequality persist, which is a significant social gap.
The Problem of Poverty in the United States The problem of increasing poverty is one of the major political issues in the United States, which became especially agile after the appearance of the COVID-19 pandemic due to the difficult economic situation all over […]
Poverty and Unemployment Due to Increased Taxation The government on its side defended the move while trying to justify the new measures’ benefits, a move that would still not benefit the country.
Poverty as a Global Social Problem For example, the research shows that Kibera is the largest slum in the country, and this is where many people move to settle after losing hope of getting employed in towns.
Researching the Problem of Poverty However, the rich people and the rich countries reduce poverty to some extent by providing jobs and markets to the poor, but the help is too little compared to the benefits they get thus accelerating […]
Poverty, Social Class, and Intersectionality I prefer the structural approach to the issue as I believe the created structures are responsible for the existence of diverse types of oppression.
Wealth and Poverty: The Christian Teaching on Wealth and Poverty To illustrate the gap between the world’s richest and the world’s poorest, a recent UN publication reported that the wealth of the three richest persons in the world is greater than the combined wealth of […]
Guns Do Not Kill, Poverty Does It is widely accepted that stricter gun control policies are instrumental in alleviating the problem, as they are supposed to reduce the rate of firearm-related deaths, limiting gun access to individuals at-risk of participating in […]
Poverty’s Effects on Delinquency The economic status of people determines their social class and the manner in which they get their basic needs. Seeing these things and the kind of life rich people lead motivates the poor to commit […]
The Criminalization of Poverty in Canada In this regard, with a special focus on Canada, the objective of this essay is to investigate how public policy has transformed alongside the public perception of social welfare reform.
The Issue of Vicious Circle of Poverty in Brazil The persistence of poverty, regardless of the many shocks that every state receives in the normal course of its survival, raises the feeling that underdevelopment is a condition of equilibrium and that there are pressures […]
Community Health Needs: Poverty Generally, the higher the level of poverty, the worse the diet, and hence the higher the chances of developing diabetes. Consequently, a considerable disparity in the prevalence of diabetes occurs between communities with high levels […]
“Poverty, Race, and the Contexts of Achievement” by Maryah Stella Fram et al. The article “Poverty, race, and the contexts of achievement: examining the educational experience of children in the U.S. Multilevel models were then applied in the analyses of how children varied in their reading scores depending […]
Couple Aims to Fight Poverty, One Village at a Time People are not afraid to risk their own financial savings, their investments, and even life’s safety to help the chosen community and improve the conditions this community has to live under.
Microeconomic Perspective on Poverty Evolution in Pakistan The periodic spike in poverty levels, notwithstanding economic growth, implies incongruous policy functionality in relation to drivers of poverty and the subsequent failure to improve the indicators.
The Impact of Poverty on Children Under the Age of 11 The strengths of the Marxist views on poverty are in the structural approach to the problem. Overall, the Marxist theory offers a radical solution to the problem of child poverty.
Poverty Policy Recommendations Different leaders have considered several policies and initiatives in the past to tackle the problem of poverty and empower more people to lead better lives.
Poverty Reduction and Natural Assets Therefore, the most efficient way to increase the efficiency of agriculture and reduce its environmental impacts is ensuring the overall economic growth in the relevant region.
Corporate Social Responsibility & Poverty Alleviation Researchers state that “preventing and managing the negative impacts of the core business on the poor” are essential indicators of the social responsibility of the company.
Children in Poverty in Kampong Ayer, Brunei Part of the reason is likely malnutrition that results from the eating or consumption patterns of the families and also dependency on the children to help out with the family or house chores.
Health, Poverty, and Social Equity: Indigenous Peoples of Canada Another problem that much of northern Canada’s Indigenous Peoples face is the availability of healthcare services and people’s inability to access medical help.
The Problem of Childhood Poverty Unequal income distribution, adult poverty, government policies that exclude children and premature pregnancy are some of the items from the long list of childhood poverty causes. Before discussing the causes and effects of childhood poverty, […]
Individualistic Concepts and Structural Views on Poverty in American Society The concepts presented in the book Poverty and power help to better understand the content of the article and the reasons for such a different attitude of people to the same problem.
Poor Kids: The Impact of Poverty on Youth Nevertheless, the environment of constant limitations shapes the minds of children, their dreams and the paths they pursue in life, and, most importantly, what they make of themselves.
Poverty: Causes and Effects on the Population and Country Thesis: There are a great number of factors and issues that lead a certain part of the population to live in poverty and the input that such great numbers of people could provide, would be […]
The Internet and Poverty in Society The information that can be found on the web is a very useful resource but at the same time it is important to consider several things with the treatment and examination of the presented information.
Poverty in Africa: Impact of the Economy Growth Rate Thus, a conclusion can be made that economic growth in Africa will result in the social stability of the local population.
Poverty and Disrespect in “Coming of Age in Mississippi” by Anne Moody Life was not fair to a little Anne the chapters about her childhood are alike to a chain of unfortunate events that happened to her and her relatives.
Vietnam’s Economic Growth and Poverty & Inequality A significant part of the population was active in employment, and this means that the numerous income-generating activities improved the economy of this country.
Poverty and Disasters in the United States Focusing on the precaution measures and the drilling techniques that will help survive in case of a natural disaster is one of the most common tools for securing the population.
Intro to Sociology: Poverty It is challenging to pinpoint the actual and not mythological reasons for the presence of poverty in America. The former can be summed up as a “culture of poverty”, which suggests that the poor see […]
The Notion of “Poverty” Is a Key Word of a Modern Society As far as the countries of the Third World are deprived of these possibilities, their development is hampered and the problem of poverty has become a chronic disease of the society.
The Problem of Poverty in Africa The major aim of the study is to identify the causes of poverty and propose best strategies that can help Africans come out of poverty.
Poverty Sustainability in Sub-Saharan Countries: The Role of NGOs The position of research and statistics in undertaking social-counting work is not queried. It is after the research method is used in other tribulations of the charity that gaps emerge between management and research.
The Effects of Poverty Within Criminal Justice The approach used in this study is deductive since the reasoning in the study proceeds from the general principle regarding the fact that poverty has a role to play in the administering of fairness in […]
The Poverty Rates in the USA Poverty in the U. Officially the rate of poverty was at14.3%.
Poverty in America: A Paradox Many people especially the young people living in other countries and more so in developed countries wish to immigrate to America instead of working hard to achieve the dream of better opportunities.
Values and Ethics: Poverty in Canada The case study1 has indicated for instance, that the number of people living in poverty in 2003 is at 4. A group of individuals would therefore be granted the mandate to lead the others in […]
War and Poverty Connection in Developing Countries The scholars claim that conflict and war in most nations have been found to exacerbate the rate of poverty in the affected nations.
Poverty in United States. Facts and Causes Schwartz carried out a research which showed that in the United States, about 13-17|% of the individuals live below the federal poverty line at any one single time and poverty is one of the main […]
Cultures and Prejudice: Poverty Factors For instance, if the two cultures had in the past interacted in a negative way, the poor culture directs all the blame to the well up culture.
Poverty and Criminal Behavoiur Relation The level of accuracy that the data collected holds cannot be 100%; there is a level of error that affects the reliability of the data collected.
Urban Relationship Between Poverty and Crime The areas with high poverty level in the US urban areas have the highest cases of crime but this is inadequate to justify that poverty is the cause of crime.
The End of Poverty Possibility
Poverty, Suburban Public School Violence and Solution
Social and Economic Policy Program: Globalization, Growth, and Poverty
Is Poverty From Developing Countries Imagined?
How Gender and Race Structure Poverty and Inequality Connected?
Poverty by Anarchism and Marxism Approaches
Colonial Economy of America: Poverty, Slavery and Rich Plantations
Poverty as a Great Social Problem and Its Causes
Environmental Deterioration and Poverty in Kenya
Management Issues: The Poverty Business
Marginalization and Poverty of Rural Women
Pockets of Poverty Mar the Great Promise of Canada
Poverty. “How the Other Half Lives” by Jacob Riis
The Underclass Poverty and Associated Social Problems
Child Poverty in Toronto, Ontario
Children’s Brain Function Affected by Poverty
Poverty Issue in America Review
Microeconomics. Poverty in America
Poverty and Inequality in Modern World
Poverty and Its Effects on Females
Poverty and Its Effects on Women
Poverty of America: Economic Assumptions
Poverty as a General Problem
Feminization of Poverty – A Grave Social Concern
Global Poverty Dimensions and Alleviating Approaches
Poverty Level in any Country
Theories of Fertility. Economics Aspect and Poverty.
The Cultural Construction of Poverty
Poverty in the US: Causes and Measures
Poverty Rates Issue in Alberta Analysis
“Old Age Poverty” Study by Kwan & Walsh
Phenomena of Poverty Review
Development Economics: Poverty Traps in Africa
Healthcare Development. Poverty in the 1800s
Social Problem of Poverty in the United States
Poverty and Hip-Hop: Notorious B.I.G.’s “Juicy”
Globalization Issues and Impact on Poverty and Free Trade
Anthropology: Culture of Poverty
Poverty, Stratification and Gender Discrimination
Teen Pregnancy Can Lead to Suicide and Poverty
Poverty Around the World
Poverty in Los Angeles
“Rethinking the Sociological Measurement of Poverty” by Brady
Poverty in the US: Essentials of Sociology
Econometrics: Poverty, Unemployment, Household Income
Religious Quotes on Poverty and Their Interpretations
Poverty and Inequality in “Rich and Poor” by Peter Singer
The Relation Between Poverty and Justice
Canada and the Imposition of Poverty
Poverty and Politics in “The Bottom Billion” by Collier
The Impact of Poverty in African American Communities
“Poverty and Joy: The Franciscan Tradition” by Short
International Financial Institutions’ Poverty Reduction Strategy
Social Study: Mamelodi Residents Living in Poverty
Video Volunteers’ Interventions Against Poverty
Poverty in American Single-Parent Families
Single-Mother Poverty and Policies in the United States
Poverty and Its Aspects in Historical Documents
Poverty and Its Relative Definitions
Poverty in America: An Ethical Dilemma
Child Poverty and Academic Achievement Association
Poverty as a Factor of Terrorist Recruitment
Poverty Solution as a Political Issue in Australia
Poverty: An Echo of Capitalism
Poverty, Inequality and Social Policy Understanding
Breastfeeding Impact on Canadian Poverty Gaps
Urban and Suburban Poverty in the United States
Inequality and Poverty Relationship
Poverty and Child Health in the US and the UK
Poverty Impact on Life Perception
Energy Poverty Elimination in Developing Countries
Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity and Poverty
Vietnamese Poverty and Productivity Increase
Global Health Governance and Poverty
Poverty Rates Among Whites and Blacks Americans
Culture of Poverty in the “Park Avenue” Documentary
Poverty in the US
Poor Economics and Global Poverty
Poverty as a Cause of the Sudanese Civil War
“Halving Global Poverty” by Besley and Burges
Do Poverty Traps Exist? Assessing the Evidence
Poverty Reasons in Ancient Times and Nowadays
American War on Poverty Throughout US History
Poverty and Challenges in Finding Solutions
Children and Poverty in “Born into Brothels” Documentary
Poverty and Social Welfare in the United States
Poverty in “A Theology of Liberation” by Gutierrez
Poverty Reduction Among American Single Mothers
The Relationship Between Poverty and Education
Divorce Outcomes: Poverty and Instability
African Poverty at the Millennium: Causes and Challenges
Poverty Effect on Children
Poverty and Education: School Funding Reinforces Inequality
Global Poverty and the Endeavors of Addressing It
Global Poverty Reduction: Economic Policy Recommendation
Global Conflict and Poverty Crisis
Poverty in the Novel “Snow” by Orhan Pamuk
The Rise of Poverty in the US
Profit From Organizing Tours to Poverty Areas
Detroit Poverty and “Focus Hope” Organization
Poverty Controversy in the USA
Poverty as the Deprivation of Capabilities
Suburbanisation of Poverty in the USA
The Solution to World Poverty by Peter Singer
The Poverty Across the US Culture
How Racial Segregation Contributes to Minority’s Poverty?
Catholic Dealing With Poverty and Homelessness
Human Capital and Poverty in Scottsdale
Global Poverty Studies and Their Importance
The World Bank and the Poverty of Reform
Challenges of Social Integration: Poverty
Globalization and the Issue of Poverty: Making the World a Better Place
The Economic Effect of Issuing Food Stamps to Those in Poverty
Business and Pollution Inequality in Poor States
“Facing Poverty With a Rich Girl’s Habits” by Suki Kim
What Should You Do? Poverty Issue
Causes of Poverty Traps in an Economy, Its Results and Ways of Avoiding Them
Millennium Development Goals – Energy and Poverty Solutions
Sociological Indicators of Energy Poverty
Energy and Poverty Solutions – Non-Traditional Cookstoves
Energy and Poverty Solutions – World Bank
How do Migration and Urbanization Bring About Urban Poverty in Developing Countries?
Poverty and Domestic Violence
The Rise of Extremist Groups, Disparity and Poverty
Measuring Poverty and Social Exclusion in Australia
Does Poverty Lead to Terrorism?
“Urban and Rural Estimates of Poverty: Recent Advances in Spatial Microsimulation in Australia” by Tanton, R, Harding, A, and McNamara, J
Importance of Foreign Aid in Poverty Reducing
Hispanic Childhood Poverty in the United States
How Poverty Affects Children Development?
Why Is Poverty Important in Contemporary Security Studies?
Millennium Development Goals in Kenya, Ivory Coast, Haiti, and Chad
Development Is No Longer the Solution to Poverty
Issues Underlying Global Poverty and Provision of Aid
Films Comparison: “The Fields” by Roland Joffe and “Hotel Rwanda” by Terry George
Poverty Prevalence in the United States
Terrorism, Poverty and Financial Instability
Global Poverty and Education
Critical Analyses of the Climate of Fear Report From Southern Poverty Law Center
How World Vision International Contributes to Poverty Reduction
Global Poverty, Social Poverty and Education
Global Poverty, Social Policy, and Education
Poverty Reduction in Africa, Central America and Asia
Does Parental Involvement and Poverty Affect Children’s Education and Their Overall Performance?
African Poverty: To Aid, or Not to Aid
Poverty Fighting in Saudi Arabia and in USA
Technological Development in Trade and Its Impacts on Poverty
Poverty and Development Into the 21st Century
Social Dynamics: The Southern Poverty Law Centre
Property, Urban Poverty and Spatial Marginalization
Rural Poverty in Indonesia
Is Poverty of Poor Countries in Anyway Due to Wealth of the Rich?
Poverty and Gender Violence in Congo
Correlation Between Poverty and Obesity
Civil War and Poverty: “The Bottom Billion” by Paul Collier
Analytical Research: Poverty in Thailand: Peculiarities and Perspectives
Poverty Indicators in Developing Countries
Poverty, Homelessness and Discrimination in Australia: The Case of the Aboriginal
Social Business Scope in Alleviating Poverty
Africa’s Poverty: The Influence of Western States
Susceptibility of Women and Aboriginal People to Poverty in Canada
MDG Poverty Goals May Be Achieved, but Child Mortality Is Not Improving
Microcredit: A Tool for Poverty Alleviation
Impacts of Global Poverty Resistance
Reducing Poverty: Unilever and Oxfam
Poverty in the United States
The Mothers Who Are Not Single: Striving to Avoid Poverty in Single-Parent Families
Effect of Poverty on Children Cognitive and Learning Ability
Sweatshops and Third World Poverty
War on Poverty: Poverty Problem in US
Freedom from Poverty as a Human Right and the UN Declaration of Human Rights
War on Poverty in US
The Causes of Poverty Concentration in the Modern World
Poverty in Saudi Arabia
Poverty as a Peculiarity of the Economical Development
Capitalism and Poverty
The Problems of Poverty in the Modern World
Poverty Among Women and Aboriginals
On (Not) Getting by in America: Economic Order and Poverty in the U.S.
The Singer Solution to World Poverty
Poverty and Inequality in Jacksonian America
Poverty in America Rural and Urban Difference (Education)
What Is the Relationship Between Race, Poverty and Prison?
Poverty and Its Effects on Childhood Education
Poverty in Russia During the Late Nineteenth Century
Banker to the Poor: Micro-Lending and the Battle Against World Poverty: Advantages of Microcredit
Social Welfare Policy That Facilitates Reduction of Poverty and Inequality in the US
Immigrant Status and Poverty: How Are They Linked?
Effects of Poverty on Immigrant Children
Poverty in Brazil
The Problem of Immigrants Poverty in the US
Why Poverty Rates are Higher Among Single Black Mothers
Poverty and Its Impact on Global Health: Research Methodologies
Poverty Concerns in Today’s Society
Literature Study on the Modern Poverty Concerns
Poverty and Wealth in “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara
Peter Singer on Resolving the World Poverty
Aspects of Global Poverty
Concepts of Prenatal Drug Exposure vs. Poverty on Infants
UN Summit in New York: Ending Global Poverty
Why Has Poverty Increased in Zimbabwe?
Should Private Donations Help Eliminate Child Poverty?
Why Was Poverty Re-Discovered in Britain in the Late 1950s and Early 1960?
Why Does Child Labour Persist With Declining Poverty?
Why Are Child Poverty Rates Higher in Britain Than in Germany?
What Are the Principles and Practices for Measuring Child Poverty in Rich Countries?
Why Did Poverty Drop for the Elderly?
What Is the Relationship Between Income Distribution and Poverty Reduction in the UK?
What Are the Pros and Cons of Poverty in Latin America?
Should Poverty Researchers Worry About Inequality?
What Helps Households With Children in Leaving Poverty?
What Is the Connection Between Poverty and Crime?
Why Have Some Indian States Done Better Than Others at Reducing Rural Poverty?
What Is the Relationship Between Lack of Education and Poverty?
Why Are Child Poverty Rates So Persistently High in Spain?
Trade Liberalisation and Poverty: What Are the Links?
What Are Academic Programs Available for Youth in Poverty?
What Are the Main Factors Contributing to the Rise in Poverty in Canada?
Single-Mother Poverty: How Much Do Educational Differences in Single Motherhood Matter?
What Are the Causes and Effects of Poverty in the United?
Why Are Some Countries Poor?
What Is the Link Between Globalization and Poverty?
What Are the Factors That Influence Poverty Sociology?
What Causes Poverty Within the United States Economy?
What Is the Relationship Between Poverty and Obesity?
Why Were Poverty Rates So High in the 1980s?
With Exhaustible Resources, Can a Developing Country Escape From the Poverty Trap?
Why Does Poverty Persist in Rural Ethiopia?
Who Became Poor, Who Escaped Poverty, and Why?
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Poverty Is a Choice

Extreme poverty has declined, but the line is very low.

We live in what often feels like a biblically terrible time, marked by mass extinctions, deep recessions, epidemics, climate emergencies, inequality, and forever wars. But one thing, at least, has gotten better. More than 1 billion people have escaped extreme poverty—so many, so fast, that the world might be able to declare, within a decade, the end of this most miserable form of deprivation. “The global poverty rate is now lower than it has ever been in recorded history,” Jim Yong Kim, a former president of the World Bank, recently argued . “This is one of the greatest human achievements of our time.”

Or perhaps not. In an acidic rebuke to world leaders, the outgoing United Nations special rapporteur on poverty and human rights, Philip Alston, argues that the effort to end global poverty has failed. More people live in deprivation now than two decades ago. “We squandered a decade in the fight against poverty, with misplaced triumphalism blocking the very reforms that could have prevented the worst impacts of the pandemic,” Alston wrote in his last report .

So who’s right: Alston or Kim? The pessimistic argument is a hard one to make when looking at the raw, headline numbers. The global extreme-poverty rate fell from 36 percent in 1990 to 10 percent in 2015; the number of poor people dropped from 2 billion to 700 million. But Alston believes that by focusing only on those numbers, the world is deluding itself.

Read: A moral case for giving people money

The divisions between the World Bank’s economists and the UN’s special rapporteur are in some sense technical, about where to set the poverty line. They are in a more important sense interpretive, about whether progress has been fast or slow, and whether today’s global poverty counts are laudable or tragic.

This is a realm of yes-and s and no-but s, not direct refutations. Extreme poverty has declined rapidly, but the extreme-poverty line is very low: A person living below it spends no more than $1.90 a day, enough in many poor countries to cover some starch, a few fruits and vegetables, some cooking oil, a bit of protein, and that’s about it—with nothing left over for utilities, education, health care, transportation, or investment in wealth-generating assets, such as a cow or a motorbike. That poverty threshold represents “a staggeringly low standard of living, well below any reasonable conception of a life with dignity,” Alston argues—it is a catastrophic-destitution measure, not a poverty measure. He emphasizes the lack of progress made at the $3.20-a-day and $5.50-a-day poverty lines, too. Half the world lives on less than the latter figure.

Alston takes issue with the fact that the World Bank’s extreme-poverty line is an absolute measure, not a relative one: It sets a line and sees how many people cross it, country by country, rather than pegging the poverty threshold to median income, country by country. But “relative poverty is what really counts these days,” Alston told me, as it captures social exclusion, and the way that living on a few dollars a day is more challenging in middle-income countries like India and Kenya than in low-income countries like Afghanistan and Chad. “In a poorer country,” the bank itself explains , “participating in the job market may require only clothing and food, whereas someone in a richer society may also need access to the internet, transportation, and a cell phone.”

The bank also acknowledges that the global extreme-poverty line is low. It has generated a measure that includes relative poverty, and produces counts at the $3.20-a-day and $5.50-a-day lines. Its economists, researchers, and program experts stress that rising above the extreme-poverty line is no guarantee against malnutrition, stunted growth, early death, or any of the other horrible consequences of destitution.

But Alston’s most controversial, and most important, argument is that the focus on progress measured against the $1.90-a-day line—the prevalence of “everything’s getting better” arguments, made by Davos types like Bill Gates and Steven Pinker —has hampered progress toward true poverty eradication, and toward civil rights, social inclusion, and a basic standard of living for all. “By being able to rely so heavily on the World Bank's flagship figure, they can say, ‘Look, progress has been consistent. We’ve been doing great,’” Alston told me. “The implication of that is that the triumph of neoliberalism has brought with it very significant benefits for poor people. In reality, that’s just not the case.”

Read: How many people in the world are actually poor?

What if world leaders and multilateral institutions focused on the $5.50 line, or measures of poverty that capture social exclusion and relative deprivation? What if the headline story were that half the world still qualifies as desperately poor, and poverty head counts remain stubbornly high in dozens of countries? What if the story were not that we are succeeding, but that we are failing?

That story would not capture all the good that has happened in terms of infant-mortality rates falling, school-enrollment numbers rising, and malnutrition fading. But it would hold the world accountable for the fact that poverty is, always and everywhere, a choice. Alston’s view, and a necessary one, is that the world cannot wait for economic expansion to lift people above the poverty line. It cannot count on trade compacts and infrastructure projects and the ticking of GDP growth rates from 2.3 to 3.2 percent to do it. It needs direct interventions by governments, as fast as possible, to eliminate inequality and build safety nets, even in the poorest places.

1000-Word Philosophy: An Introductory Anthology

Philosophy, One Thousand Words at a Time

Ethics and Absolute Poverty: Peter Singer and Effective Altruism

Author: Brandon Boesch Category: Ethics , Social and Political Philosophy Word Count: 998

Listen here

Imagine you are walking by a shallow pond and see a drowning toddler. Do you have a moral obligation to save the child, even if it means ruining your clothes? It seems so.

Now consider that there are millions of people suffering and dying due to absolute poverty —the inability to maintain basic standards of living. In 2017, over 700 million people lived on less than USD $1.90 per day [1] , over 800 million lacked clean drinking water [2] and over 800 million people did not have enough to eat. [3] Over 5 million children died in 2019 from preventable and treatable diseases. [4]

Contemporary philosopher Peter Singer [5] famously argues that if you’re obligated to save the drowning child, you are equally obligated to help save people dying due to absolute poverty by donating to effective aid agencies. This essay explains his argument and considers some common objections to it.

1. Singer’s Argument

Singer’s argument depends on a fairly straightforward moral principle: if we can prevent something very bad from happening without sacrificing anything of comparable moral importance, then we are morally obligated to do so . [6]

This principle explains why we should save the drowning child: her life is far more important than your outfit.

But millions of people are suffering or dying from absolute poverty and many of us could easily do something to prevent this by donating to effective aid agencies. Further, our doing so wouldn’t require that we sacrifice anything of comparable moral importance: we would just need to spend less money on things less important than human life: e.g., vanilla lattes, Netflix, and other luxuries. So, Singer concludes that it is wrong for many of us not to donate—it’s like letting the toddler drown in the pond to prevent our clothes from getting ruined.

Singer’s argument has radical implications for how many live, since most things routinely purchased in affluent countries are less important than a human life. It has thus given rise to many objections, several of which are discussed below.

2. Objections

2.1. too demanding.

Some interpret Singer’s argument as too demanding—implying that we must live simplistically, giving away any and all money we would otherwise spend on luxuries.

Singer responds that if his argument is sound then it doesn’t matter how radical it is—morality is sometimes challenging. [7]

Others suggest that we consider making a less radical commitment and donate ten percent of our income. [8] Research suggests this donation wouldn’t negatively affect the average donor (with about a 0.1 drop on a 10-point happiness scale for an average US citizen). [9] Indeed, many enjoy helping others and find it increases their happiness. [10] And it’s worth noting that meaningful good would still be done with an even smaller commitment. [11]

2.2. Distance

Others argue that we would be obligated to help the drowning child because she is part of our local community, arguing that our moral obligations derive from the relationships we have with others, [12] and so we are not obligated to help those in far-distant countries.

But suppose that there were a button in the pond which, if pressed, would save a toddler’s life in another country. If you think you’re still obligated to ruin your clothes to press it, then distance doesn’t change our obligations.

Others argue that we should focus on local poverty first. [13] But the costs of helping people in wealthy countries are significantly higher than aid in impoverished countries—making your donation less effective. [14]

2.3. Whose Responsibility?

Some argue that we don’t have an obligation to donate to aid agencies since there are many others who aren’t donating.

But suppose in the drowning toddler case, there were people standing at the shore watching and doing nothing. [15] Virtually no one would stand and watch a toddler die when they could easily wade in and save her, regardless of the inaction of others.

Some argue that issues related to absolute poverty are really the responsibility of the government. Others say that absolute poverty is the result of underlying structural problems and so we should solve those structural issues instead.

But suppose the reason the toddler is drowning is because there’s a playground right next to the pond and toddlers keep falling in. Surely, we should advocate to move the playground—but not before saving the toddler! Similarly, it seems like we have reasons to both help those who are currently suffering and advocate for larger scale solutions. [16]

2.4. Effectiveness of Donations

Others point out that in the pond example, I personally save the child whereas if I donate, my donation could be stolen, embezzled, or otherwise fail to save lives.

To address this worry, several organizations have been created which identify aid agencies with a proven track record and monitor their success. [17] And suppose that when wading into the pond, you only had a 75% chance to save the toddler’s life. Wouldn’t you still try to save her?

2.5. Personal Commitments

Another objection is that Singer’s argument requires that we ignore our personal commitments.

For example, paying your friend’s exorbitant US medical costs is less effective than paying for medical costs in a poor country. But friendship ignores concerns of effectiveness in favor of loyalty and personal commitment. [18] Arguably, personal commitments and moral identities require that we at least consider donating to less effective causes which support our personal commitments. [19]

But, Singer might contend that you should do both—donate to effective causes in addition to (not in place of) your friend’s medical costs or your other moral identities. [20]

3. Conclusion

The response to global poverty is among the most practical ethical issues that exists. Many reading this could do something right now by making a donation online , of any amount, to effective aid organizations.

Singer’s work, along with that of others, [21] has inspired a movement called “effective altruism” which advocates for altruism —being concerned for others for their own sake [22] —in the most effective ways possible, generally by giving to aid agencies which do the most good. [23] If they’re right, then many of us will need to radically change our lives for the good of all.

[1] The World Bank (2020).

[2] World Health Organization (2019a).

[3] World Health Organization (2019b).

[4] World Health Organization (2020).

[5] To learn more about Peter Singer, see his webpage at www.petersinger.info .

[6] Singer’s 1972 essay “Famine, Affluence, and Morality” is the first and most famous exposition of the effective altruism movement. Singer offers two versions of his principle (see pages 231 and 235)—this formulation combines them.

[7] This is the first response Singer offers on page 236 of his (1972).

[8] MacAskill, Mogensen, and Ord make this argument in their 2018 essay. Singer (1972, 235) makes a similar move by considering a weaker version of his original principle: that our moral obligation is to prevent something very bad from happening without sacrificing anything of comparable moral importance. MacAskill, Mogensen, and Ord offer an even weaker (but still meaningful) suggestion that we draw the line at 10% of income, which is quite a bit over the average amount donated in the United States each year of about 2%.

[9] MacAskill, Mogensen, and Ord spend quite a bit of time outlining their evidence for their claim that giving is not demanding. See their (2018, 186).

[10] MacMillan (2017) discusses a study in which generosity was shown to lead to higher reported levels of happiness.

[11] For example, in 2016, only 44.3% of Americans gave more than $25 to charity (Michigan Institute for Social Research 2017). If those people were to give $50, that would amount to several billion dollars in additional donations.

[12] For example, Friedman (1991); Reader (2003); and Abelson (2005).

[13] Angus Deaton (2018), for example, argues that there is a sufficiently high number of people in absolute poverty in the US to merit focusing attention on eliminating that poverty.

[14] Singer (2018) makes this argument in response. He discusses this objection in conversation with Julia Taylor Kennedy in this 2011 “Extreme Poverty” video.

[15] Singer offers this modification in his original 1972 essay, page 233.

[16] Ashford (2018) argues that we have a primary duty to help resolve the structural problems, but a back-up duty to help those suffering in the meantime.

[17] See, for example, Giving What We Can ( https://www.givingwhatwecan.org/ ), Give Well ( https://www.givewell.org/ ), and The Life You Can Save ( https://www.thelifeyoucansave.org/ ).

[18] This argument is made by Amia Srinivasan (2015) in her review of MacAskill’s (2015) book.

[19] I make this argument in Boesch (2018).

[20] This response works particularly well if we are working with a weaker proposal, like that given by MacAskill, Mogensen, and Ord (2018). It is less effective if you take the stronger version of Singer’s argument.

[21] See, as important examples: Unger (1996); Singer (2015); and MacAskill (2015).

[22] Contrast altruism with ethical egoism, an exclusive concern for one’s own self, potentially at the expense of others. See Ethical Egoism by Nathan Nobis for an introduction to egoism.

[23] “Most good” is typically understood as the greatest amount of reduction in death or suffering due to lack of basic necessities (adequate food, water, medical care, shelter, etc.)

Abelson, Raziel. 2005. “Moral Distance: What Do We Owe to Unknown Strangers?” In The Philosophical Forum , 36:31–39.

Ashford, Elizabeth. 2018. “Severe Poverty as an Unjust Emergency.” In The Ethics of Giving: Philosophers’ Perspectives on Philanthropy , edited by Paul Woodruff, 103–48. Oxford University Press.

Boesch, Brandon. 2018. “Integrity, Identity, and Choosing a Charity.” In The Ethics of Giving: Philosophers’ Perspectives on Philanthropy , edited by Paul Woodruff, 149–77. Oxford University Press.

Deaton, Angus. 2018. “The U.S. Can No Longer Hide from Its Deep Poverty Problem,” The New York Times, Jan. 24, 2018.

Friedman, Marilyn. 1991. “The Practice of Partiality.” Ethics 101 (4): 818–35.

MacAskill, William. 2015. Doing Good Better: How Effective Altruism Can Help You Make a Difference . New York: Penguin Random House.

MacAskill, William, Andreas Mogensen, and Toby Ord. 2018. “Giving Isn’t Demanding.” In The Ethics of Giving: Philosophers’ Perspectives on Philanthropy , edited by Paul Woodruff, 178–203. Oxford University Press.

MacMillan, Amanda. “Being Generous Really Does Make You Happier.” Time , Jul. 14, 2017.

Michigan Institute for Social Research. 2017. Panel Study of Income Dynamics.

Reader, Soran. 2003. “Distance, Relationship and Moral Obligation.” The Monist 86 (3): 367–81.

Singer, Peter. 1972. “Famine, Affluence, and Morality.” Philosophy & Public Affairs , 229–43.

——— . 2018. “Is Extreme Poverty Being Neglected in the U.S.?” The New York Times, Jan. 28, 2018.

Srinivasan, Amia. 2015. “Stop the Robot Apocalypse.” London Review of Books 37 (18).

———. 2015. The Most Good You Can Do: How Effective Altruism Is Changing Ideas About Living Ethically . New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

The World Bank. 2020. “Measuring Poverty.”

Unger, Peter K. 1996. Living High and Letting Die: Our Illusion of Innocence . Oxford University Press.

World Health Organization. 2019a. “Drinking-Water.”

———. 2019b. “World Hunger Is Still Not Going down after Three Years and Obesity Is Still Growing – UN Report.”

———. 2020. “Children: Improving Survival and Well-Being.” 2020.

For Further Reading and Viewing

Ilingworth, Patricia, Thomas Pogge, and Leif Wenar. 2011. Giving Well: The Ethics of Philanthropy. Oxford University Press.

MacAskill, William. “What Are the Most Important Moral Problems of Our Time?” Youtube.

Moody, Michael and Beth Breeze. 2016. The Philanthropy Reader. Routledge.

Reich, Rob. 2018. Just Giving: Why Philanthropy Is Failing Democracy and How It Can Do Better. Princeton University Press.

Singer, Peter . 1999. “The Singer Solution to World Poverty.” The New York Times, Sept. 5, 1999.

——— . 2010. “The Life You Can Save in 3 Minutes.” Youtube.

——— . 2011. “Extreme Poverty.” Youtube.

——— . 2013. “The Why and How of Effective Altruism.” Youtube.

Zunz, Olivier. 2012. Philanthropy in America: A History. Princeton University Press .

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Brandon Boesch, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Morningside University in Sioux City, IA. His research focuses on the nature and role of models and representation in scientific practice as well as issues in applied ethics, including ethics of philanthropy and biomedical ethics. sites.google.com/view/boeschb

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When We Debate Poverty, What Are We Really Arguing About?

This is Part 3 in a series about the 50th anniversary of the War on Poverty. Click here for Part 1, Part 2, Part 4, and Part 5. —- Normally, […]

Normally, I don’t respond directly to comments to my blog posts. I don’t like to argue with individual people, particularly when the arguments are based in hardened ideological stances that aren’t going to change with any one exchange.

But, thinking about a particular comment led to other thoughts that I want to get down in writing.

Scarcity and Poverty

A commenter to my last post about the 50th Anniversary of the War on Poverty said, “The not-so-subtle poke at the supposed capitalistic intent to develop scarcity so as to maintain low labor costs plays into the typical class-warfare and conspiracy of power thinking…” and “To take a Marxist… critique of capitalism and propagate conspiracy theories against power-brokers will do little in effectively addressing the problem.”

I hadn’t thought that I was making a Marxist argument. In my decidedly non-Marxist Microeconomics 101 class way back when, the very first thing the professor told us was that scarcity was the defining concept of economic thought. Even underneath supply and demand, there is the condition of scarcity. I wasn’t meaning to present this scarcity as a conspiracy of elite power-brokers but more as a boundary condition that defines what is possible within our economic system. I was saying that scarcity of employment/labor is a fact of life. I wasn’t making a value judgment about the existence of scarcity.

And the implication of this scarcity—that poverty will always be with us—is something that predates Karl Marx and Adam Smith. As some Christians like to quote, Jesus said that “you will always have the poor with you,” (paraphrase of Matthew 26:11, Mark 14:7, John 12:8) or, if you want to go even farther back, to the Old Testament: “For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’” (Deuteronomy 15:11). I reference these quotes not as an appeal religious authority (I am not a religious person) but to demonstrate that the point about the persistence of poverty is neither new nor unique to Marxism.

My original post was responding to arguments that the War on Poverty was/is a failure. I was arguing that no program or set of programs should be judged a failure for the persistence of poverty.

Moreover, it is not the same set of people who are poor today as were poor in the early 1960s. It is more racially diverse; it is less urban; it has proportionately fewer old people (one easily quantifiable success of War on Poverty programs is the dramatic decrease of poverty rates for seniors). So, despite the persistence of poverty, I argue that the War on Poverty has accomplished much. And further, if we want to build upon its successes, we need to recommit to reducing poverty (as opposed to eliminating it) and keeping our programs/initiatives attuned to the new realities of the current population of people in poverty. The Legacy of the War on Poverty: What Are We Really Arguing About?

The War on Poverty was declared a little over 50 years ago, but we argue about it as if it was still ongoing. It still clearly pushes buttons and raises emotions. But the points I made about poverty and not stepping in the same river twice can also be applied to the War on Poverty and antipoverty programs. Around the 25th Anniversary of the declaration of the War on Poverty, Ronald Reagan said, “In the sixties we waged a war on poverty, and poverty won.”

Despite the Reagan's clear declaration about the cessation of hostilities against poverty, we act as if the War on Poverty has been enacted consistently and constantly over the past 50 years. However, many of the of the original War on Poverty programs are long dead or have been changed beyond recognition. Our current array of anti-poverty programs, such as they are, do not constitute the same river as the War on Poverty. But politicians are holding hearings, advocacy groups are holding events, media outlets are doing retrospectives, etc., people on all sides of the issue are arguing as if the War on Poverty is still on-going and that we are all on different sides of the battlefield.

This is because we are not arguing about the War on Poverty, per se. We are arguing on the level of values and beliefs. The fight about the legacy of the War on Poverty is a proxy argument for a larger conflict about the role of government, about the possibility for personal and social change, about the role of race, gender, culture, immigration status, class background, sexuality, etc. in determining life outcomes, about personal and societal priorities, about opportunity, freedom, hope, fear, etc. My intent in these posts is not to “throw political barbs from philosophical stances” but to illuminate some of the underlying issues, data, tensions, myths and misperceptions that are present in public policy debates around issues of poverty. Of course I have a point of view (and I am not hiding the ball on my point of view). I believe that we all should be looking out for each other; that those of us who have the most should be looking out for those who have the least; that our government has a role (but are not the only actor) in this. But I try hard to keep the arguments civil and non-partisan in the realm of ideas/values and policy/programs, not so much about barb throwing.

A Final Note

In responding to the comment to my original post, I’ve tried to keep things big picture and not get into the weeds about smaller points within the comment. But, there is one point that I feel compelled to address:

“A major aspect of poverty in the US, particularly among the rise of Hispanics, is immigration. Few countries in the world import poverty to the extent the US does. Legal and illegal immigrants preponderantly bring their own poverty with them…they don't inherit here. And it stresses the system's ability to effectively deal with those ever-increasing numbers.”

The comment says that immigration is a “major aspect” of poverty and that it “stresses the system’s ability to effectively deal with those ever-increasing numbers.” This sentiment is common and there is a lot of outrage in the general public about the hordes of immigrants stressing our social support systems for people in poverty. Immigrants (all national origins combined), however, only make up less than 16 percent of the total poverty population. Hispanic-origin immigrants make up less than 10 percent of the total poverty population. These are still significant numbers. But they seem (to me at least) to be way out of proportion to the level of outrage.

Second, there seems to be an underlying assumption that, if there was no more immigration, the poverty population would not grow as fast as it does now. But the difference between the poverty rate of immigrants and non-immigrants is relatively minor (again out of proportion to the prevailing perception).

In point of fact, for Hispanics/Latinos, the poverty rate between immigrants and non-immigrants is effectively the same (i.e., the margins of error overlap) with a slightly higher poverty rate for the non-immigrants. That is, even if we reduced immigration to zero, the poverty population would grow in the practically same proportion (with respect to overall population growth) as it does now.

Finally, the vast preponderance of the economic/empirical evidence is that immigration (both legal and illegal immigration) is a net benefit to the economy and this is true for the US as well as for other developed nations .

About the Author

Josh Ishimatsu

Josh Ishimatsu is deputy director of capacity building and research for National CAPACD.

3 thoughts on “ When We Debate Poverty, What Are We Really Arguing About? ”

I didn’t read the original post, nor (obviously) the comments, but this is a great article – THANK YOU!

Josh, I hope that since we seem to be in a discussion, I can get familiar. Economics isn’t called the “dismal science” for no reason I suspect. You are right, scarcity is part and parcel of economic reality. Certain things are valuable simply because they are scarce and that scarcity tends to make them desirable…whether they are truly valuable or not. But the idea that a scarcity exists in all things is an overstatement. Until a Malthusian catastrophe develops due to over-population, there are some things that aren’t presently scarce…such as air, land and surprisingly at the present time, enough food to feed the world’s population. In regard to the food issue, what scarcity that does exist is distribution and economics-related, not scarcity itself. Are food producers capable and willing to provide food to the poor at a price they can afford? That’s not an easily answered question, and at present, the answer is “no.” So in one sense it is a contrived scarcity, but if the farmer is to maintain a living, can it be otherwise? I suppose it could if the communist concepts could really work, which up to now they have been abject failures that have produced worse situations than capitalistic measures. I am pleased you clarified your comments were intended as observational rather than judgmental. History has shown that power brokers act like power brokers, regardless of who they are…replacing one set of power brokers with another has never solved the issue of human greed and self-interest at the expense of those they can take advantage of. I would like to clarify my immigration comment. I understand your reaction and the assumption that I might disfavor immigration. Actually, I favor immigration, as I feel it has more positive aspects than negative. I was merely making an observation that many refuse to acknowledge…continuing poverty is the product of many aspects, including attitude, but one major aspect is the importation of poverty as opposed to self-made. Using stats of multi-generational poverty as opposed to immigrational poverty doesn’t tell very much. How long should it take for an immigrant family to rise above the poverty they came with? One generation? Two? The fact that they came here at least speaks to their belief that their chances are better here than where they came from. And, in my opinion, that positive attitude is what makes them an attribute to a society that has a tendency to fall into decadence because we are so relatively wealthy, compared to the rest of the world. I think it is important that immigrants rise above the place they found themselves when they came here. Their willingness to work, sacrifice, save and embrace education should be rewarded and challenge the rest of us who may take those qualities for granted in what is increasingly becoming what looks like a “nanny-state”…..a State that should look after us. I don’t see this as a war on poverty or a class-struggle or a discussion on distribution of scarce things, as if reducing material poverty consequentially produces better or happier lives. I see it as a process of educating ourselves about attitude and approach to life. I have been blessed to know people of material poverty who have great attitudes and unquenchable hopes…and they are rich in happiness and expectation. I know a lot of materially well-to-do folks whose attitudes and feelings are built on fear, anger and greed, and I assure you, they are miserable. Happiness is not a scarce commodity by its limited availability, Whatever scarcity of human happiness there may be is self-imposed. And for me, ultimately, the question of poverty is about finding personal fulfillment in what my life has meant to others, not what benefits I accrued to myself. And that question probably can’t be answered through the “dismal science” but more likely by the religious questions.

Great article! I especially liked:

“This is because we are not arguing about the War on Poverty, per se. We are arguing on the level of values and beliefs. The fight about the legacy of the War on Poverty is a proxy argument for a larger conflict about the role of government, about the possibility for personal and social change, about the role of race, gender, culture, immigration status, class background, sexuality, etc. in determining life outcomes, about personal and societal priorities, about opportunity, freedom, hope, fear, etc.”

Well said!! Although that second sentence is a whopper! 🙂

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Poverty - List of Free Essay Examples And Topic Ideas

Poverty, a state of deprivation of basic human needs and economic opportunities, is a pervasive issue across the globe. Essays could explore the systemic causes of poverty, its impact on individuals and communities, and the various strategies employed to alleviate poverty. Additionally, discussions might delve into the role of international aid, the impact of globalization, and the ethical responsibilities of affluent individuals and nations toward poverty reduction. A substantial compilation of free essay instances related to Poverty you can find at PapersOwl Website. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

Poverty and Drug Abuse Addiction

One popular stereotype associated with drug use is that it is rampant among the poor. However, this is not entirely true since insufficient money linked with the poor cannot probably sustain drug use. The link between the two factors is multifaceted, and the connectedness of poverty is complex. Poverty entails unstable family and interpersonal associations, low-skilled jobs and low status, high arrest degrees, illegitimacy, school dropping out, deprived physical health, high mental conditions, and high mortality rates. Such factors resemble […]

Changing the Face of Poverty Summary

In Changing the Face of Poverty the author, Diana George, begins with her annual food drive at St. Vincent de Paul, and every day she receives bills and catalogs with appeals like the Navajo Health Foundation, little Brothers, and many others. In those was Habitat for Humanity. As a member of this club, I know the duties and responsibility towards this organization. George states that Habitat for Humanity is not as helpful as it seems. She says that the organization […]

Racism in Criminal Justice System

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Impact of Poverty on the Society

This is a very challenging question because nearly every ""pressing problem or social issue"" has underlying factors and historical influences. So I will try to explain my understanding of these topics. There are two important lenses from which to consider this issue; first, from the individual circumstance and second, from specific community conditions. The inability of individuals to earn enough money to afford to meet their basic needs and maintain a healthy lifestyle is, in my opinion, the most pressing […]

Poverty in the United States

Poverty is a major issue in our world today, it is when people are not able to afford a minimum standard of living to survive. Poverty is the removal of financial stability to afford necessities. Bill Fay, veteran journalist defined poverty as a pervasive human condition of being unable to obtain or provide a standard level of food, water, and shelter. In 2015, a study was done and reported that 60% of people will experience at least 1 year of […]

Unemployment a Major Cause of Homelessness

Homelessness or known as extreme poverty can be interpreted as a circumstance when people have no place to stay with the result that they end up live in the street, under the bridge even at the side of the river. There are 3.5 million Americans are homeless each year. Of these, more than 1 million are children and on any given night, more than 300,000 children are homeless. They who do not have an occupation are the one that is […]

Breaking the Poverty Trap

One of the reasons the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer, is because of the lack of not knowing and ignorance hindering half the world, allowing the cycle of poverty to continue. Poverty trap is as a spiraling mechanism, that forces people to remain poor binding many to no hope of escaping. The poverty trap has been an ongoing cycle within generations even those close to me, that has tremendously taken a negative toll on society and my […]

Childhood Poverty

Abstract Poverty is viewed throughout the world as a large social problem that continues to advance with time. Since 1960, poverty has continued to flourish into a problem that has affected a large majority of the population, including our children. Childhood poverty affects the psychological and biological development, as well as three main levels of social systems: micro, mezzo and macro. Even though there has been active research on poverty, generational poverty and childhood poverty, no active changes have been […]

Homelessness in the United States

Homelessness is a social problem that has long plagued the United States and surrounding Countries for centuries. It is an economic and social problem that has affected people from all walks of life, including children, families, veterans, and the elderly. Kilgore (2018). States homelessness is believed to have affected an estimated amount of 2.5-3.5 million people each year in the United States alone. Recent evidence suggests economic conditions have increased the number of people affected by homelessness in the United […]

Poverty in Developing Countries

Introduction A. (Opening Device) How many of you ever had to think or worry about your next meal? Most of us, we don't have to think about that, we don't think about where we having that meal. But in developing countries people have to think about everything they do in daily life, The goal for the day is to have meal with family and have a shelter, or to live in a house to hope for better lifestyle. To make […]

Closing the Education Gap by Attacking Poverty Among Children

Looking around the campus of an Ivy League schools, one wonders how students from such diverse backgrounds ultimately wound up at the same place. From having a mother who works in admissions, I grew up hearing that no matter where you came from, your socioeconomic status, and even sometimes your grades, all kids have the potential to attend a prestigious university. However, I find that hard to believe. With a combination of taking this class on homelessness this semester, growing […]

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

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Poverty is a pervasive human condition of being unable to obtain or provide a standard level of food, water, and/or shelter (Fay, n.d.). The United States has the highest rate of poverty among wealthy countries. The official poverty line is based on what the federal government considers to be the minimum amount of money required for living at a subsistence level (Kendell, 2018). Sociologists define poverty in two ways: absolute and relative. Absolute poverty is when the household income is […]

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Poverty and Crime

Poverty isn't the 'mother of crime.' However it is one noteworthy benefactor. Crime exists, since individuals need something they don't have, and are not willing to comply with the law(s) on the books to get it. What poverty does is, it decreases the things needy individuals have accessible to them, along these lines offering undeniably more things for needy individuals to want—and substantially more inspiration to them to carry out a crime to get it. Along these lines, more needy […]

Poverty in America

Poverty has been a ongoing, social issue that throughout the years has changed its meaning. Poverty is defined lacking basic necessities such as water, food, shelter, wealth, etc… About fifty years ago, war was declared on poverty by President Johnson hoping that it would end, but fast forward today, it is one of the biggest social issues America is dealing with. We don’t really know why poverty is still occurring, because the reasons seem to always be changing. The reasons […]

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Ever since the emergence of civilization several hundreds of years ago, social inequality has been a prevalent aspect of many societies across the world. This social structure developed as a result of several factors, amongst them political and economic status in the society. During the early stages of civilization, social and political status was closely related whereby the few powerful political leaders tended to be wealthier than the lesser politically influential majority. Although this dynamic is still prevalent in developing […]

Poverty and Homelessness in America

Poverty and Homelessness in America is a daunting subject which everyone recognizes but do not pay attention to. A homeless person is stereotypically thought to be a person who sleeps at the roadside, begging for money and influenced by drug with dirty ragged clothes and a person who is deprived of basic facilities in his or her life such as; education, electricity, proper clothes, shelter, water with a scarcity of balanced diet is termed as person living under the line […]

Poverty in Haiti: is there a Solution?

Abstract Haiti is a Latin American country that is often ignored. People do not hear much about it, except if a natural disaster such as the earthquake in 2010 happens. It was once the richest colony of the Caribbean and nowadays is known as the poorest country of the Western Hemisphere. Haiti has been facing a cycle of poverty since it became independent. Haiti’s location and deforestation have contributed to make the situation worse. More than half of the population […]

Causes of Poverty

Some causes of poverty in the United States are: unemployment, inflation, poor management of resources, government policies, debt, corruption, extreme weather, lack of control in local food, lack of access to education, mental illness ( lack of proper psychiatric care), diseases, automation, and overpopulation. Poverty is a pervasive human condition of being unable to obtain or provide a standard level of food, water and/or shelter. It exists in every country in varying degrees, and it is unlikely to disappear anytime […]

Affordable Housing Takes on Poverty

Without affordable housing there will be a continuous increase in minorities which also leads to a higher poverty rate. Poverty is the state of being extremely poor. Affordable housing helps decrease poverty in many ways than one. Affordable housing fulfills a human’s basic need for shelter as well as provides privacy for families. Those who receive affordable housing assistance and have children, benefit from better nutrition. Affordable housing would reduce poverty and should be available to those who are in […]

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Compared to other developing countries in Latin America, Chile's political and economic development is distinctive. The country is one of the democratic exceptions, owing to its relatively poor and small population at the time of Spanish colonial rule. The indigenous population is also rather small, and the country has a high degree of ethnic and cultural homogeneity (Hillman and D’Agostino 2011, 67-107). However, today's regime wasn't always democratic. Between 1973 and 1990, Chile was under an authoritarian regime led by […]

Living in Poverty and being Rich

Poverty is such a simple word, but it is so complicated at the same time. The vast majority of individuals will not fully comprehend the real implication of poverty just by reading its literal meaning from the dictionary, but by learning from their surroundings and experiencing hardship itself. Defining poverty can be being poor financially but is also defined as a comfortable way of living as well as spiritually too. What does it mean actually to be poor? Most […]

Poverty and Obesity

It is a known fact that the individual exert influences on the environment and vice versa. However, no man is an Island and as such, these influences reflect through various levels of social and interpersonal relationships. The social environment of the individual include interaction with peers, friend and family members, through such mechanism as role modeling, social support and social norms (Mary, Karen, Ramona, Karen .Annu. Rev. Public Health 2008.Creating Healthy food and Eating Environments, para 2). The physical environment […]

A Problem Child Poverty and Effects on Education

“The impact of poverty on a child’s academic achievement is significant and starts early,” – Jonah Edelman, co-founder and chief executive officer of Stand for Children (Taylor, 2017). According to the U.S. Census Bureau in 2015, around 20 percent of children in the U.S. lived in poverty (Taylor, 2017). Rather than focusing all our time, attention, and resources on rewriting standards and adding higher stakes standardized tests, are we missing a larger looming issue? Studies have shown that student poverty […]

Poverty Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on poverty essay.

“Poverty is the worst form of violence”. – Mahatma Gandhi.

How Poverty is Measured?

For measuring poverty United nations have devised two measures of poverty – Absolute & relative poverty. Absolute poverty is used to measure poverty in developing countries like India. Relative poverty is used to measure poverty in developed countries like the USA. In absolute poverty, a line based on the minimum level of income has been created & is called a poverty line. If per day income of a family is below this level, then it is poor or below the poverty line. If per day income of a family is above this level, then it is non-poor or above the poverty line. In India, the new poverty line is Rs 32 in rural areas and Rs 47 in urban areas.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Causes of Poverty

According to the Noble prize winner South African leader, Nelson Mandela – “Poverty is not natural, it is manmade”. The above statement is true as the causes of poverty are generally man-made. There are various causes of poverty but the most important is population. Rising population is putting the burden on the resources & budget of countries. Governments are finding difficult to provide food, shelter & employment to the rising population.

The other causes are- lack of education, war, natural disaster, lack of employment, lack of infrastructure, political instability, etc. For instance- lack of employment opportunities makes a person jobless & he is not able to earn enough to fulfill the basic necessities of his family & becomes poor. Lack of education compels a person for less paying jobs & it makes him poorer. Lack of infrastructure means there are no industries, banks, etc. in a country resulting in lack of employment opportunities. Natural disasters like flood, earthquake also contribute to poverty.

In some countries, especially African countries like Somalia, a long period of civil war has made poverty widespread. This is because all the resources & money is being spent in war instead of public welfare. Countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, etc. are prone to natural disasters like cyclone, etc. These disasters occur every year causing poverty to rise.

Ill Effects of Poverty

Poverty affects the life of a poor family. A poor person is not able to take proper food & nutrition &his capacity to work reduces. Reduced capacity to work further reduces his income, making him poorer. Children from poor family never get proper schooling & proper nutrition. They have to work to support their family & this destroys their childhood. Some of them may also involve in crimes like theft, murder, robbery, etc. A poor person remains uneducated & is forced to live under unhygienic conditions in slums. There are no proper sanitation & drinking water facility in slums & he falls ill often & his health deteriorates. A poor person generally dies an early death. So, all social evils are related to poverty.

Government Schemes to Remove Poverty

The government of India also took several measures to eradicate poverty from India. Some of them are – creating employment opportunities , controlling population, etc. In India, about 60% of the population is still dependent on agriculture for its livelihood. Government has taken certain measures to promote agriculture in India. The government constructed certain dams & canals in our country to provide easy availability of water for irrigation. Government has also taken steps for the cheap availability of seeds & farming equipment to promote agriculture. Government is also promoting farming of cash crops like cotton, instead of food crops. In cities, the government is promoting industrialization to create more jobs. Government has also opened ‘Ration shops’. Other measures include providing free & compulsory education for children up to 14 years of age, scholarship to deserving students from a poor background, providing subsidized houses to poor people, etc.

Poverty is a social evil, we can also contribute to control it. For example- we can simply donate old clothes to poor people, we can also sponsor the education of a poor child or we can utilize our free time by teaching poor students. Remember before wasting food, somebody is still sleeping hungry.

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230 Research Topics on Poverty: Argumentative, Solutions, Cause & Effect Topics about Poverty

Extreme poverty has been a hot-button issue for ages. Many of us expected the 21st century to become the era when the problem of drastic income inequality would be resolved. But the COVID-19 pandemic threw these initiatives back . Poverty has become as widespread as a hundred years before. Will we ever make the Earth a prosperous place for all?

This article features 230 poverty essay topics. They tackle every social, economic, psychological, and political aspect of this controversial issue. For your convenience, we grouped them according to the paper genre. Discrimination and limited access to education, malnutrition, health problems, mental disorders, and hunger are only some of the spheres you can debate.

🔝 Top 15 Poverty Essay Topics

📝 Topics & Issues to Cover in a Paper

🪙 Research Topics on Poverty

🗣️ Argumentative Essay Topics
➡️ Cause & Effect Essay Topics on Poverty

💡 Poverty Solutions Essay Topics

🧸 child poverty essay topics, 🌎 poverty in america essay topics, 🔗 references.

Ending poverty in all its forms around the globe is our goal No.1.
What does it mean to be poor?
The pandemic can teach us a new lesson in fighting poverty worldwide.
Child poverty essay: Lifelong ramifications.
How does poverty measurement impact public opinion?
Why does Africa remain to be the least developed country?
Do we oversimplify when dividing people into wealthy and poor?
Why should economics study the phenomenon of poverty?
Poverty in America: An essay on its dynamics.
How is deprivation linked to crime levels?
Does overpopulation cause poverty?
It is a myth that wealthy people are often obese.
Fighting poverty is what all of us do throughout our lives.
Can free education for all be a measure to eliminate poverty?
Globalization will end poverty in developing countries.

📝 Topics & Issues to Cover in a Paper

Some poverty essay topics are too broad to prepare compelling argumentation. We have explored these directions to guide your research.

Defining Poverty

When the financial resources in a community are lacking, the basic needs of some people are not met. These circumstances do not allow poor people to enjoy an acceptable standard of life. They may not have a roof above their heads or may not be able to afford clothes and food. But the lack of income also causes many psychological and sociological consequences. Children of the poor have a higher probability of physical and mental health issues than their peers. They are also more likely to abuse substances and have problems with the law.

Measuring Poverty

The US Bureau of Census is responsible for calculating poverty rates in the US. They usually exclude anyone living in a mental health facility, prison, military quarters, and school dormitories. They do not count children under 15 years, either.

The World Bank established a new goal to eliminate extreme poverty in one generation starting in 2013. By 2030, They planned to decrease the number of the world’s population who live on $1.90 per day down to 3%. Measuring poverty shows which strategies work and which should be put aside. It also guides emerging countries in their development strategies to adapt to the rapidly changing world economy.

Poverty Facts & Statistics

In 2018, four out of five individuals below the poverty line resided in rural areas.
In 2020, extreme poverty rates rose for the first time over the last two decades. It happened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, military conflicts, and climate change.
97 million people crossed the poverty line because of the pandemic.
Children make up 50% of the poor global population.
70% of the global poor above 15 have no or only primary school education.
More than 40 % of the poor live in countries affected by conflict and violence. Over the next decade, the number is predicted to peak at 67%. Meanwhile, only 10% of the world’s population lives in such countries.

What Can Be Done About Poverty?

At the moment, money is the best measure to reduce poverty . Investing in the markets of emerging countries could spur their economic growth. However, investors are often unwilling to do so, as these nations often struggle to sustain economic growth.
The second way of problem-solving is education. It gives safety and support to children from low-income families (as they often suffer from domestic violence or sexual abuse). It also increases their future employment opportunities. But most importantly, it creates a culture of learning in families, and the next generations will benefit from it.
The origin of poverty and the divergence of concepts depending on the context.
Comparison of poverty concepts by UN, the World Bank and the EU.
The difference between the definition of poverty in the EU and other world organizations.
The difference between the UN definition of poverty and other world organizations.
The World Bank’s definition of poverty differs from other world organizations.
Aspects affecting the measurement of poverty.
How Poverty Changes.
When poverty is recognized as global?
General level of development of the state affects the spread of poverty.
Is poverty just an economic factor?
When is a person recognized as poor determined?
Poverty at the individual, local, national and global levels.
Poverty hinders cognitive function.
Poor people are often more susceptible to severe illness.
Economic stability is paramount for a poor household.
The rising cost of living makes poor people less able to afford things.
Rising costs can push into poverty and others into poverty.
Stress factors caused by poverty.
Children living in poverty have lower cognitive thinking.
Education in the US educational system is focused on students from more affluent families.
Conditions in schools in poor areas prevent children from learning in a safe environment.
High crime rate among children with low resources.
Children from low-income families have higher rates of teenage pregnancy.
Relationship of gender to poverty or location.
In poorer countries, girls have lower completion rates.
Most often, children end up in orphanages because of family poverty.
Cultural factors can negatively affect productivity and perpetuate poverty in a state.
Women are the group suffering from the highest levels of poverty after children.
People living in poverty have an increased chance of getting a disability.
Many women become victims of human trafficking.
The most common form of survival is prostitution due to economic desperation.
As poverty decreases, fewer incidents of violence will occur.
Poverty Reduction Strategies.
The improvement of cities and states can affect the reduction of the level of poverty of the population.
Access to basic human needs is a way to fight poverty.
Effect of deworming children on improving education among poor children.
The fight against corruption is the same as the fight against poverty.
Debt relief for countries can reduce countries poverty levels.
Emigration from developing countries perpetuates poverty in them.
Access to contraceptives directly impacts the poverty of the population and the country’s economy.
Basic income is more effective in fighting poverty than the minimum wage and unemployment benefits.
Reducing bureaucracy and increasing economic freedom would significantly reduce poverty.
Greater access to markets brings more income to the poor.
Road infrastructure directly affects poverty.
Poverty causes environmental degradation.
Climate change can hinder poverty reduction.
Is spirituality the engine of poverty?
Voluntary poverty.
Climate change and poverty.
Increased mortality due to poverty.
The socio-economic gap between the poor and the rich.
Is poverty linked to nationality?
Religion and poverty.
The influence of geographical location on the spread of poverty.
Anti-poverty organizations and their strategies.
Long-term consequences of poverty.
Discrimination against the poor.
Short-term and long-term strategies in the fight against poverty.
Is it possible to get out of poverty, and what affects it?
Your actions against poverty.
Maintenance by the state of an adequate standard of living.
The emergence of poverty as a social phenomenon.
Is globalization exacerbating poverty?
Social isolation of the population.
Is poverty a choice?
Health care for the poor.
Human rights against poverty.
Global poverty.
Does moral poverty exist?
Children’s perception of poverty.
Poverty makes children grow up earlier.
Digitalization help fight poverty.
Does migration perpetuate poverty or fight it?
Poor women are expected to marry early.
Family planning prevents the spread of poverty.
Development of poverty.
Your understanding of poverty.
Are there countries where there is no poverty?
Political programs to combat poverty.
What factors can exacerbate poverty problems?
Poverty as a result of a natural disaster.
Sustainable Development Goals: “No Poverty”.
Dynamics of poverty levels.
Are the poor themselves to blame for poverty?
Ideological representations of poverty.
Poverty is a result of discrimination.
Do shelters for the poor help in the fight against poverty?
Does a non-working family equal a poor family?
Impact of the pandemic on the spread of poverty.
Lack of medical care for the poor.

🗣️ Argumentative Essay Topics on Poverty

Differences in prices between countries to adjust for purchasing power.
What is extreme poverty?
Measuring poverty: the monetary value of human consumption.
The difficulty of measuring global poverty: difference between countries.
International poverty line.
Is poverty linked only to wealth?
Industrialization and the fight against poverty: victory or even greater gap.
Population growth leads to more poor people in the world.
Growth of the global middle class and reduction of extreme poverty.
Poverty forecast in 2030.
Extreme poverty cannot be ended.
The concentration of poverty in Africa.
Countries that have reduced poverty: India, China, Ethiopia, Ghana.
A growing global middle class and the stagnation of the world’s poorest people.
Has modernity not reached the poor countries?
The expansion of social protection policy helps to get rid of extreme poverty.
Progress in the fight against all poverty lines.
Importance of poverty reduction in developed countries.
The demographic factor in the spread of poverty.
Adjusting to Rising Costs of Living: Increasing or Reducing Poverty?
Change in the international poverty line over time.
Is it possible to eradicate extreme poverty?
Multidimensional poverty: the diverse nature of poverty.
Africa is the continent with the poorest people.
Are there no poor people in rich countries?

➡️ Cause & Effect Essay Topics on Poverty

The economic crisis in a country leads to an increase in poverty.
Consequences of hunger for children and youth.
The poverty of children is only the concern of parents.
Most of the poor are from incomplete families.
Historical barriers in the fight against poverty.
Racial and ethnic gaps in poverty rates.
Physical and mental well-being of poor children.
Access to health care for poor families.
Inadequate education exacerbates the vicious cycle of poverty.
Children living in poverty are at greater risk for behavioral and emotional problems.
Poverty breeds violent behavior in children.
Poverty contributes to the spread of hard-to-treat diseases.
Mortality of children in poor families.
Protecting children from poor families.
The prevalence of poverty among children in developed countries.
Depression and poverty: children suffer from mental illnesses like adults.
Family conflict as a cause of child homelessness.
Homelessness harms children who are more prone to mental and physical illness.
How does the labor market affect child poverty?
Early pregnancy can lead to homelessness .
Discrimination against LGBT people increases the level of homelessness among young people.
Poverty contributes to the spread of STIs .
Violent crime among the poor.
Are violence and poverty inseparable?
Substance abuse among children from poor families.
What are the poverty solutions to stop hunger in the US?
Reducing poverty through education – the US providing global solutions for emerging nations.
How education helps break the cycle of poverty – evidence from the US communities.
Providing water for communities overarched by bottled water producers – how does this help reduce poverty?
Water resources and poverty among Native Americans – determining points of intersection.
Clean water as a source of health and prosperity – how to preserve the national water resources of the United States?
Basic health care – how free services affect global poverty.
Why should basic medical care become a human right to overcome poverty?
How do health insurance programs reduce poverty in the United States?
Weaknesses in US health insurance programs: solutions for poverty alleviation.
Empowering women to stop the poverty loops – solutions through micro-financing.
Empowering women to reduce poverty – solutions for communities in the US.
Global poverty and women’s power: three stories of entrepreneurship.
How hunger and poverty affect the mental development of children – the need for immediate global solutions.
Ensuring adequate nutrition for children and mothers to end poverty – lessons from Hawaii and Haiti.
How can the American economy overcome poverty and hunger through macroeconomic solutions?
The activities of international environmental organizations that led to poverty alleviation: the brightest victories.
Fighting global warming to end poverty – how does planting trees improve living standards?
Green energy and poverty alleviation – US macroeconomic solutions.
Combating cycles of violence to overcome poverty – the US experience.
Domestic violence as a factor in the growth of populations’ poverty.
Violence against women – hotlines and other ways to help break cycles of poverty.
Economic methods of overcoming poverty – international experience.
Business and CSR practices as a means of influence in societies with low standards of living.
Federal financing to reduce poverty – why is this a bad solution?
Overcoming child homelessness as a way to end child poverty.
Protecting orphans and securing their future through free education programs.
Adoption programs as a way to combat child poverty among orphans.
Work with refugees and assessment of child poverty in Europe and the US.
Migrant children and stigmatization – how social institutions can avoid offensive meanings.
Migration and the provision of education services – challenges related to overcoming child poverty.
The health sector and overcoming child poverty: five important practices.
Child nutrition in schools to overcome child poverty – stability and ways of implementing support programs.
Child marriage and child poverty – how the mother’s age affects the well-being of children.
Provision of education services for women as a way to overcome child poverty.
Should free medicine for children become a right, not a privilege?
How does the civilized world fight against child poverty that results from environmental disasters?
Overcoming the consequences of global warming – programs of child poverty elimination.
Overcoming child poverty with the involvement of parents – what programs exist in the US?
Child support grants: three ways to overcome mistrust.
Why does child poverty reduce the civilizational development of society?
What are the five main consequences of child poverty?
How does child poverty affect the economic development of countries?
What is child poverty: studying the main determinants.
Child poverty among the better-off sections of the US society – how do misleading concepts lead to social problems?
Education of civilizational, moral, and cultural values to overcome child poverty – three ways of development.
The ethical side of the issue of child poverty – why is society obliged to help?
How preservation of cultural values leads to child poverty – lessons from national minorities.
Why state control over culture and consciousness can lead to child poverty – the examples of the People’s Republic of China and North Korea.
Propaganda as a way to reduce child poverty – the effectiveness of the approach.
Poverty and national minorities – statistics and future trends.
Overcoming poverty through healthcare services: interaction with vulnerable groups.
Poverty and homelessness as consequences of unsuccessful political vectors – the American experience.
Unemployment and poverty among non-citizens – ways to overcome the crisis.
How has the pandemic deepened the crisis of poverty and unemployment in the US?
Poverty and professions with the least demand on the labor market in the US: gaps and new opportunities.
Democrats and Republicans – differences in approaches to overcoming poverty.
Five successful democratic (republican) initiatives to overcome poverty.
Conservatives in power and overcoming poverty – successes and failures.
The top three policies of Donald Trump that led to the deepening of the poverty crisis in the US.
Overcoming poverty in the US – the story of three presidencies (to choose from).
Geographical prerequisites of regional poverty in the US – historical experience.
Poverty crisis in the post-lockdown period – new ways of social development.
Regional poverty in the US – solutions for selected regions.
Is there a link between defense capability and poverty in the US?
How science can help overcome poverty – the experience of American farmers in the mid-20th century.
How big business harms the economy – the top 3 negative consequences of the work of unconscious producers that deepen the poverty crisis.
How unconscious consumption of Chinese goods harms the US economy and deepens the poverty crisis.
How can the United States overcome the unemployment crisis by stimulating small and medium-sized businesses?
What inhumane manufacturing practices of the mid-to-late 19th century continue to exacerbate the poverty crisis in the United States?
How are new technologies deepening the crisis of poverty and unemployment in the US?
Why does the consumer society accelerate the decline of the economy and lead to poverty in the US?
How can social science education programs help address the poverty crisis in the US?
Three bright health care initiatives that help fight poverty in the US.
Social determinants of poverty – how does the individual’s environment add to the creation of the poverty loop?
Poverty Overview | The World Bank
Poverty in the United States: 2021 | US Census Bureau
Rural Poverty & Well-Being | US Department of Agriculture
Child Poverty | UNICEF
How Is Poverty Measured? | Institute for Research on Poverty
What Is “Deep Poverty”? | Center for Poverty & Inequality Research
Poverty Facts | University of Michigan
LGBT Poverty in the United States | The Williams Institute

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Global Poverty Argumentative Essay

Author: arsalan
Posted on: 11 Oct 2022
Paper Type: Free Essay
Subject: English
Wordcount: 1378 words
Published: 11th Oct 2022

The rise in global poverty is an area of increased interest for economists and the general public. Various organizations, such as the United Nations and its member states, are committed to eradicating poverty by the year 2030. A study conducted by Amartya Sen in 1981 revealed that deaths caused by famine do not result from the unavailability of food. Rather, it is a lack of entitlement for some people that hinders access to resources (Hoy & Sumner, 2016). This inequality has long been a part of our society. Many studies attribute global poverty to inequality, while others negate a relation between the two. This essay aims to explore the relationship between global poverty and inequality by presenting an argument from the available research. The essay further concludes the impact of providing equal opportunities to reduce global poverty.

Global poverty and inequality are major problems for developing countries, which constitute more than four-fifths of the world’s population. However, an analysis of the World as a whole depicts a negative relationship between income inequality and poverty. With approximately 700 million of the world’s population living in poverty, about eighty percent reside in developing countries. In an attempt to improve their financial status, the majority of the population has been migrating to developed countries in search of better prospects. However, it does little to decrease global levels of poverty. The results of this study establish that income inequality does not impact global poverty, and increasing the minimum wage has a meager impact as well. This is due to the positive correlation between an increase in minimum wage and levels of inflation (Ferreira & Ravallion, 2011). A similar conclusion was drawn by Ravallion through an analysis of data collected over 25 years. An investigation of global poverty and income inequality data from approximately 130 countries revealed a negative correlation between the two. The basic argument that refutes this claim is that unequal income distribution leads to unequal consumption, leading to a scarcity of resources (Ravallion, 2008).

While many argue that there is no concrete impact of inequality on global poverty, there are others who believe that poverty results from the unequal distribution of wealth and resources within a society. The proponents of this idea believe that about three-quarters of world poverty can be eliminated through the redistribution of national resources. This can be achieved through cash transfers through new taxation and by reallocating public funds. A common perception is that developing countries do not possess sufficient capacity for revised taxation and relocation of public spending. However, Hoy and Sumner establish that at lower poverty lines, this is no longer the case. Since most of the poverty is saturated at the lower poverty lines, a potential increase of taxes for the “richer” citizens and reallocating national funds from military spending or subsidies on fossil fuels can aid in eliminating poverty at this level. While at a lower level, poverty is regarded as a matter of national inequality, at higher levels, it is considered to be a matter of global injustice and requires global redistribution to eliminate poverty (Hoy & Sumner, 2016).

Although there is a bank of research that establishes a relationship between global poverty and income inequality, it may not be sufficient. This is because uncertainties such as misinterpretation of estimates and an inherent error in the available data may hinder an accurate evaluation of the relationship between the two. These shortcomings not only impact the outcome but also delay the implementation of an intervention to overcome global poverty. Anand and Segal approached this issue methodically and offered proof of data inconsistencies and fallacies. Such fallacious data often leads to uncertainty in determining whether the appropriateness of the course of action (Anand & Segal, 2008).

Overcoming poverty has become an important goal of government institutions as well as many global organizations. Entrepreneurship has emerged as an important factor in this regard, with many people considering it to be an important tool in decreasing poverty, especially in developing countries. Self-employment opens up opportunities for personal growth and also improves one’s prospects. Additionally, it can reduce individual poverty and lead to economic growth by creating job opportunities for other people within the society. Excelling beyond the constraints of the traditional industry widens the horizon for exploring personal potential. Entrepreneurship has aided many unemployed individuals to become fruitful members of society. The “Global Entrepreneurship Monitor” data and the “UN-UNDP Human Development Index” from 2010–2019 revealed that an increase in entrepreneurship has impacted the economy positively and helped move the countries in the right direction (Amoros, Rodríguez-Aceves, & Ruiz, 2021).

Global poverty is an issue that has plagued the world for a long time and although many causal factors have been put forth, inequality of income distribution and unequal opportunities is considered a prime factor by many. While the proponents of this idea posit a redistribution of national and global resources along with increased taxation for the rich, others believe that an increase in income would further increase inflation. Although an accurate impact of inequality on poverty may not be gauged due to fallacies and inaccurate data, measures must be taken to pinpoint the reasons and steps must be taken to eradicate this problem. In this regard, entrepreneurship has emerged as an effective solution that not only enables individual growth but also contributes to the national economy by opening up job opportunities as well as a means to decrease poverty.

Amoros, J. E., Rodríguez-Aceves, L. M., & Ruiz, L. E. (2021). Revisiting poverty and entrepreneurship in developing countries. Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship, 26 (2).

Anand, S., & Segal, P. (2008). What Do We Know about Global Income Inequality? Journal of Economic Literature, 46 (1), 57-94.

Ferreira, F., & Ravallion, M. (2011). Poverty and Inequality: The Global Context. Oxford University Press.

Hoy, C., & Sumner, A. (2016). Global poverty and inequality: Is there new capacity for redistribution in developing countries? Journal of Globalization and Development, 7 (1), 117-157.

Ravallion, M. (2008). Global poverty and Inequality: A Review of the Evidence. World Bank Publications.

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Persuading Society to Address Poverty: A Call to Action

Category: Economics , Social Issues
Topic: Economic Problem , Food Shortage , Hunger

Pages: 3 (1246 words)

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Bibliography
Global poverty and hunger: take action . (2019). Retrieved from Action against
Poverty in Africa. (2019). Retrieved from children international
Rachelk. (2012, June 7). Speech on Poverty
The top 9 causes of global poverty . (2019, February 4). Retrieved from Concern worldwide US

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Argumentative Paper: Poverty in The United States

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Poverty Statistics

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Poverty Is a Choice

Ethics and Absolute Poverty: Peter Singer and Effective Altruism

1. Singer’s Argument

2. Objections

2.2. Distance

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When We Debate Poverty, What Are We Really Arguing About?

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