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Leading Away from Poverty
[edit]The Status Quo
[edit]
Poverty is the severe lack of possessions, which results in some basic needs not being met. This means that a person living in poverty has a significantly reduced quality of life.[1]
Around 22% per cent of the world's population has to live on less than 1.25 USD a day.[2] More than half of these people are located in Sub-Saharan Africa and around a third live in South Asia. [3] However, poverty is not only experienced in these places; people are living in poverty all over the world. Even in states considered "developed" like the US, around 12.3% of citizens live in poverty.[4]
This indicates a global trend of poverty and to break out of it, strong leadership and governance are required.
Change Towards Solutions
[edit]Existing solutions to poverty can be split into two types:
1. Solutions for the Developed States: Systematic Fixes [5]
- More Jobs
- Higher minimum wage
- Tax Adjustments
These solutions focus on fixing issues with the economy and legislation surrounding those who are economically disadvantaged.
2. Solutions for the Developing States: Development & Microfinance [6]
- Access to health care
- Access to education
- Access to local and international markets
- Entrepreneur traineeship
Developing states, however, require a greater deal of intervention even to create a system in which they are economically stable.
Despite these different strategies, the situations in both developing and developed states could be helped with more effective governance by having stronger governments in developing countries and greater legislation in developed countries.[7][8]
Evidence for Solutions
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Two of the main economic strategies that can be used in both developed and developing countries are:
1. Conditional cash transfer schemes
These schemes involve cash handouts to people experiencing poverty in return for them engaging in behaviours such as getting vaccines and attending school. These schemes only work when conducted in combination with the transfer of power onto these citizens, the emphasis of entitlements and good policy.[9]
2. Microfinance
Microfinance involves giving assisting smaller businesses with small loans. The logic behind this is that this money means that the economy can be boosted, creating jobs. In many cases, these businesses expand to promote healthcare, giving people a way out of poverty. This worked in three institutions in Bangladesh, where after seven years, poverty was reduced, and local economies were improved.[10]
The Effects
[edit]The logic behind both of these strategies is that they will, in the short term, put money into the hands of the poor, boosting the economies of their communities. However, the long-term effects are associated with the longevity of education and health in these communities. This means that by encouraging people to focus and engage with school and health services, they will essentially grow into healthy and professional lives. This is all for the long-term goal of intergenerational financial independence and the reduction of health issues associated with poverty.
Overcoming Challenges
[edit]The effects of such solutions are highly dependent on the governance surrounding the policies that enact these strategies.
Often the political effects of enacting policies that involve giving money to those in poverty are met with varying degrees of outrage. This is particularly evident in liberal, democratic nations that emphasise self-determination. The reason why so many people might be left in poverty is that they don’t make up a large enough percentage of the electorate for the government to serve. Richer people, who want to lessen their withheld tax are people who have the power and sway in such nations. This points to a socio-economic challenge to implementing these strategies.
Another issue is the corruption of governance in many developing countries. This is created by a huge power imbalance in countries like Somalia and Nigeria. This corruption is propelled by developing nations not having many 'checks and balances' and little market interference.[11] With governments or people like this in power, it can be difficult to make changes.
These issues are deeply entrenched and cannot be undone with a single act. International Law and convention would have to interfere with the means of human rights violation.
Success Metrics
[edit]Success can be quantitatively measured through the number of people in poverty. However, the best measure would be a quantitative investigation into the effects of these strategies on people and the longevity of them.
Vision Statement
[edit]The vision of change is one that is a renaissance of public thought about the poor and an international movement to continue to break the cycle. NGOs like World Vision and Oxfam are making great headway in with these issues. Overall, governance needs to change to serve those who have little to no voice, and only then, will poverty have a chance of being eradicated.
[./Applewebdata://95BB58AA-A91F-4E24-99BE-C131F32AB0D0#%20ftnref1 [1]] "Poverty - World Vision Australia". 2019. Worldvision.Com.Au. https://www.worldvision.com.au/global-issues/work-we-do/poverty.
[./Applewebdata://95BB58AA-A91F-4E24-99BE-C131F32AB0D0#%20ftnref2 [2]] United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). 2019. "Sustaining Human Progress: Reducing Vulnerabilities And Building Resilience". Human Development Report 2014. http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/hdr14-report-en-1.pdf.
[./Applewebdata://95BB58AA-A91F-4E24-99BE-C131F32AB0D0#%20ftnref3 [3]] "WDI - Where Do The World’S Poorest People Live Today?". 2018. Datatopics.Worldbank.Org. http://datatopics.worldbank.org/world-development-indicators/stories/where-do-the-worlds-poorest-people-live-today.html.
[./Applewebdata://95BB58AA-A91F-4E24-99BE-C131F32AB0D0#%20ftnref4 [4]] US Bureau. 2019. "Income And Poverty In The United States: 2017". Census.Gov. https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2018/demo/p60-263.html.
[./Applewebdata://95BB58AA-A91F-4E24-99BE-C131F32AB0D0#%20ftnref5 [5]] Vallas, Rebecca, and Melissa Boteach. 2014. "The Top 10 Solutions To Cut Poverty And Grow The Middle Class - Center For American Progress". Center For American Progress. https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/poverty/news/2014/09/17/97287/the-top-10-solutions-to-cut-poverty-and-grow-the-middle-class/.
[./Applewebdata://95BB58AA-A91F-4E24-99BE-C131F32AB0D0#%20ftnref6 [6]] "Poverty - World Vision Australia". 2019. Worldvision.Com.Au. https://www.worldvision.com.au/global-issues/work-we-do/poverty.
[./Applewebdata://95BB58AA-A91F-4E24-99BE-C131F32AB0D0#%20ftnref7 [7]] "Improving Governance Is Key To Ensuring Equitable Growth In Developing Countries". 2017. World Bank. https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2017/01/30/improving-governance-is-key-to-ensuring-equitable-growth-in-developing-countries.
[./Applewebdata://95BB58AA-A91F-4E24-99BE-C131F32AB0D0#%20ftnref8 [8]] Schillo, R, and Robinson, Ryan. “Inclusive Innovation in Developed Countries: The Who, What, Why, and How.” Technology Innovation Management Review 7, no. 7 (July 1, 2017): 34–46. http://search.proquest.com/docview/1963138653/.
[./Applewebdata://95BB58AA-A91F-4E24-99BE-C131F32AB0D0#%20ftnref9 [9]] Forde, Ian, Bell, Ruth, Marmot, Michael G, and Forde, Ian. “Using Conditionality as a Solution to the Problem of Low Uptake of Essential Services Among Disadvantaged Communities: a Social Determinants View.” American journal of public health 101, no. 8 (August 1, 2011): 1365–1369. http://search.proquest.com/docview/876853645/.
[./Applewebdata://95BB58AA-A91F-4E24-99BE-C131F32AB0D0#%20ftnref10 [10]] Khandker, S. R. 2005. "Microfinance And Poverty: Evidence Using Panel Data From Bangladesh". The World Bank Economic Review 19 (2): 263-286. doi:10.1093/wber/lhi008.
[./Applewebdata://95BB58AA-A91F-4E24-99BE-C131F32AB0D0#%20ftnref11 [11]] World Bank Group. 2017. "Governance And The Law". World Development Report 2017. International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank.