United Nations: Fundamentally,
poverty is the inability of getting choices and opportunities, a violation of
human dignity. It means lack of basic capacity to participate effectively in
society. It means not having enough to feed and clothe a family, not having a
school or clinic to go to not having the land on which to grow
one’s food or a
job to earn one’s living, not having access to credit. It means insecurity,
powerlessness and exclusion of individuals, households and communities. It
means susceptibility to violence, and it often implies living in marginal or
fragile environments, without access to clean water or sanitation.
poverty is the inability of getting choices and opportunities, a violation of
human dignity. It means lack of basic capacity to participate effectively in
society. It means not having enough to feed and clothe a family, not having a
school or clinic to go to not having the land on which to grow
one’s food or a
job to earn one’s living, not having access to credit. It means insecurity,
powerlessness and exclusion of individuals, households and communities. It
means susceptibility to violence, and it often implies living in marginal or
fragile environments, without access to clean water or sanitation.
World Bank: Poverty
is pronounced deprivation in well-being, and comprises many dimensions. It
includes low incomes and the inability to acquire the basic goods and services
necessary for survival with dignity. Poverty also encompasses low levels of
health and education, poor access to clean water and sanitation, inadequate
physical security, lack of voice, and insufficient capacity and opportunity to
better one’s life.
is pronounced deprivation in well-being, and comprises many dimensions. It
includes low incomes and the inability to acquire the basic goods and services
necessary for survival with dignity. Poverty also encompasses low levels of
health and education, poor access to clean water and sanitation, inadequate
physical security, lack of voice, and insufficient capacity and opportunity to
better one’s life.
Copenhagen Declaration: Absolute
poverty is a condition characterized by severe deprivation of basic human
needs, including food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, health,
shelter, education and information. It depends not only on income but also on
access to social services the term ‘absolute poverty’ is sometimes synonymously
referred to as ‘extreme poverty. ‘Poverty is usually measured as either absolute or relative (the
latter being actually an index of income inequality).
poverty is a condition characterized by severe deprivation of basic human
needs, including food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, health,
shelter, education and information. It depends not only on income but also on
access to social services the term ‘absolute poverty’ is sometimes synonymously
referred to as ‘extreme poverty. ‘Poverty is usually measured as either absolute or relative (the
latter being actually an index of income inequality).
Other
aspects
aspects
Economic aspects of poverty focus on material
needs, typically including the necessities of daily living, such as food,
clothing, shelter, or safe drinking water. Poverty in this sense may be
understood as a condition in which a person or community is lacking in the
basic needs for a minimum standard of well-being and life, particularly as a
result of a persistent lack of income.
needs, typically including the necessities of daily living, such as food,
clothing, shelter, or safe drinking water. Poverty in this sense may be
understood as a condition in which a person or community is lacking in the
basic needs for a minimum standard of well-being and life, particularly as a
result of a persistent lack of income.
Analysis of social aspects of
poverty links conditions of scarcity to aspects of the distribution of
resources and power in a society and recognizes that poverty may be a function
of the diminished “capability” of people to live the kinds of lives
they value. The social aspects of poverty may include lack of access to information, education, health care, or
political power.
poverty links conditions of scarcity to aspects of the distribution of
resources and power in a society and recognizes that poverty may be a function
of the diminished “capability” of people to live the kinds of lives
they value. The social aspects of poverty may include lack of access to information, education, health care, or
political power.
Poverty levels are snapshot
picture in time that omits the transitional dynamics between levels. Mobility
statistics supply additional information about the fraction who leaves the
poverty level. For example, one study finds that in a sixteen-year period (1975
to 1991 in the U.S.) only 5% of those in the lower fifth of the income level
were still in that level, while 95% transitioned to a higher income category.
Poverty levels can remain the same while those who rise out of poverty are
replaced by others. The transient poor and chronic poor differ in each society.
In a nine-year period ending in 2005 for the U.S., 50% of the poorest quintile
transitioned to a higher quintile.
picture in time that omits the transitional dynamics between levels. Mobility
statistics supply additional information about the fraction who leaves the
poverty level. For example, one study finds that in a sixteen-year period (1975
to 1991 in the U.S.) only 5% of those in the lower fifth of the income level
were still in that level, while 95% transitioned to a higher income category.
Poverty levels can remain the same while those who rise out of poverty are
replaced by others. The transient poor and chronic poor differ in each society.
In a nine-year period ending in 2005 for the U.S., 50% of the poorest quintile
transitioned to a higher quintile.
Poverty may also be understood as
an aspect of unequal social status and
inequitable social relationships, experienced as social exclusion, dependency,
and diminished capacity to participate, or to develop meaningful connections
with other people in society. Such social exclusion can be minimized through
strengthened connections with the mainstream, such as through the provision of relational care to those
who are experiencing poverty.
an aspect of unequal social status and
inequitable social relationships, experienced as social exclusion, dependency,
and diminished capacity to participate, or to develop meaningful connections
with other people in society. Such social exclusion can be minimized through
strengthened connections with the mainstream, such as through the provision of relational care to those
who are experiencing poverty.
An early morning outside the Opera Tavern in
Stockholm, with a gang of beggars waiting for delivery of the scraps from the
previous day. Sweden, 1868.
Stockholm, with a gang of beggars waiting for delivery of the scraps from the
previous day. Sweden, 1868.
The World Bank’s “Voices of
the Poor,” based on research with over 20,000 poor people in 23 countries,
identifies a range of factors which poor people identify as part of poverty.
These include:
the Poor,” based on research with over 20,000 poor people in 23 countries,
identifies a range of factors which poor people identify as part of poverty.
These include:
- Abuse by those in power
- Dis-empowering institutions
- Excluded locations
- Gender relationships
- Lack of security
- Limited capabilities
- Physical limitations
- Precarious livelihoods
- Problems in social relationships
- Weak community organizations
David Moore, in his book The
World Bank, argues that some analysis of poverty reflect pejorative,
sometimes racial, stereotypes of impoverished people as powerless victims and
passive recipients of aid programs.
World Bank, argues that some analysis of poverty reflect pejorative,
sometimes racial, stereotypes of impoverished people as powerless victims and
passive recipients of aid programs.
Ultra-poverty, a term apparently
coined by Michael Lipton, connotes being amongst poorest of the poor in
low-income countries. Lipton defined ultra-poverty as receiving less than 80
percent of minimum caloric intake whilst spending more than 80% of income on
food. Alternatively a 2007 report issued by International Food Policy Research
Institute defined ultra-poverty as living on less than 54 cents per day.
coined by Michael Lipton, connotes being amongst poorest of the poor in
low-income countries. Lipton defined ultra-poverty as receiving less than 80
percent of minimum caloric intake whilst spending more than 80% of income on
food. Alternatively a 2007 report issued by International Food Policy Research
Institute defined ultra-poverty as living on less than 54 cents per day.
Assets Destitution is an economic
and social condition that is more persistent and prevalent than income poverty.
It can be defined as a household’s inability to access wealth resources that
are sufficient enough to provide for basic needs for a period of three months.
and social condition that is more persistent and prevalent than income poverty.
It can be defined as a household’s inability to access wealth resources that
are sufficient enough to provide for basic needs for a period of three months.
Basic needs refer to the minimum
standards for consumption and acceptable needs.
standards for consumption and acceptable needs.
[1] Wealth resources consist of
home ownership, other real estate (second home, rented properties, etc.), net
value of farm and business assets, stocks, checking and savings accounts, and
other savings (money in savings bonds, life insurance policy cash values, etc.).
home ownership, other real estate (second home, rented properties, etc.), net
value of farm and business assets, stocks, checking and savings accounts, and
other savings (money in savings bonds, life insurance policy cash values, etc.).
[2] Wealth is measured in three
forms: net worth, net worth minus home equity, and liquid assets. Net worth
consists of all the aspects mentioned above. Net worth minus home equity is the
same except it does not include home ownership in asset calculations. Liquid
assets are resources that are readily available such as cash, checking and
savings accounts, stocks, and other sources of savings.
forms: net worth, net worth minus home equity, and liquid assets. Net worth
consists of all the aspects mentioned above. Net worth minus home equity is the
same except it does not include home ownership in asset calculations. Liquid
assets are resources that are readily available such as cash, checking and
savings accounts, stocks, and other sources of savings.
There are two types of assets:
tangible and intangible. Tangible assets most closely resemble liquid assets in
that they include stocks, bonds, property, natural resources, and hard assets
not in the form of real estate. Intangible assets are simply the access to credit,
social capital, cultural capital, political capital, and human capital.
tangible and intangible. Tangible assets most closely resemble liquid assets in
that they include stocks, bonds, property, natural resources, and hard assets
not in the form of real estate. Intangible assets are simply the access to credit,
social capital, cultural capital, political capital, and human capital.