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Running head: Effects of Poverty in Haiti

Effects of Poverty in Haiti and Issues Related to the Distribution of Wealth

Marquita Noel-Price
CSUDH Fall 2015
Geography 350

Running head: Effects of Poverty in Haiti

Poverty is an issue that reaches out to the masses because of the incline and decline of
struggles in relation to economics, politics, and natural disasters. Poverty has been noticed
throughout the world on a variety of levels, which has a significant impact on the population
throughout many countries on a wide scale. The concerns regarding poverty are huge, which
creates an extreme gap between the rich and the poor. The distribution of wealth is a relevant
issue globally, but most specifically in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
History of Haiti
According to an article titled, Poverty in Haiti: Aid, Earthquake, and Imperialism, it
illustrated a brief history of Haiti, which brings awareness to the rocky foundation of the country.
The capital of Haiti is Port-au-Prince and the ethnic groups are ninety-five percent black, mulatto
and five percent white. The top religion in Haiti is Catholic at eighty percent. Haiti is one of the
poorest countries in the Western hemisphere, which makes up one-third of the island of
Hispaniola in the Caribbean. Dominican Republic on the other hand is on the eastern two-thirds
of the island (cnn.com: CIA world fact book). Haiti is a country that has been through many hard
times, yet it continues to get worst because of their roots, government and natural disasters. A
few key point that continues to arise touches on the structure of Haiti and lifestyle.
Infant mortality is about 109 per 1000 births, life expectancy is only 45 years, and the
incidence of diseases ranging from intestinal parasites to Acquired Immune Deficiency
Syndrome (AIDS) is extremely high. Only about 41 percent of the population has access
to safe drinking water, and only 25 percent has access to sanitary sewer systems. A
limited elite of about 10 percent, mostly professionals, enjoys a sophisticated, affluent

Running head: Effects of Poverty in Haiti

lifestyle. This elite class has traditionally resisted all attempts to restructure the Haitian
social system (Microsoft Incata: Tulane.edu n.d). Haiti as a whole has deep rooted issues
of deep rooted issues of extreme poverty and normal poverty less than the Dominican
Republic.
Natural Disaster
In Haiti, close to half of the population is living in extreme poverty and two-thirds in
normal poverty (L.Zanotti 2010). When the majority of the population is struggling it brings
forth, hate, social exclusion, chaos, disorder, violence, and lack of supplies to survive (L.Zanotti
2010). The natural disaster that occurred on
January 12, 2010 in Haiti was a seven point
zero magnitude earthquake and it was a mile
west of Haiti, which destroyed most of the
capital Port-au-Prince. The death rate was
enormous and it ranged from 230,000 to
316,000 (poverties 2013). The earthquake
destroyed Haiti tremendously from the infrastructures, to roads, home and hospitals. The people
of Haiti were emotionally, physically, and mentally struck with labor pains of their reality. The
impacts of the earthquake created a deeper hole to fill and fix, which forced many from other
countries to try to assist with families, children, and first aid. Not only did the natural disaster
devastate many; they continued to struggle with debt bondage and chronic famines.
Distribution of Wealth

Running head: Effects of Poverty in Haiti

Debt bondage happened long before the natural disaster in Haiti because of the switching
of power in government and political issues. Debt bondage was viewed as a modern day form of
slavery because of the agreements made to borrow money when in need of help; it was extremely
hard to pay the money back (poverties.org 2013). Once in debt the person loses all control, which
is an issue throughout the world, which creates such a huge gap between the rich and the poor.
There are several push and pull factors that contribute to the issue of poverty and debt bondage.
The people of Haiti are forced to work in horrible circumstances and long hours with little to no
pay. The debt continues to increase because of transportation, food and overall life necessities
(poverties.org 2013). The distribution of wealth will continue to be an issue because the rich has
the authority to control and construct the outcome for the poor. A perfect example is the pyramid,
which represents different levels of wealth; all the way down to the bottom feeders. The gap is so
huge because of calamities, routines, experiences, and perspectives. On a global scale the
distribution of wealth continues to widen and Haiti and the Dominican Republic are areas that
are in the bottom sections of the pyramid, which are majority of the time overlooked; yet the
Dominican Republic as a entirety are doing better than Haiti.
Haiti vs Dominican Republic
Haiti and the Dominican Republic are two different countries and developed in two
different ways. According to the index mundi fact book, Haiti and the Dominican Republic have
different routes to their journey economically. The development of Haiti is a free market
economy, which involves little or no government control. A free market economy incorporates
the advantages of low labor cost and tariff free access to the U.S for many of its exports (CIA
fact book n.d). Dominican Republic exports sugar, coffee, and tobacco. Agriculture is a great
component of their economy; however, they are very dependent on the U.S. Agriculture in Haiti

Running head: Effects of Poverty in Haiti

products are coffee, mango, cocoa, sugar cane, rice, wood and etc. Dominica Republic has
similar products, but they have more cattle,
which cost more, which pushes them ahead
economically. The table illustrates the
comparison of the two counties regarding
their gross domestic product and it illustrates that after the WWII the incomes diverged from
being identical. Both Haiti and the Dominican Republic have made agreements to get help with
debt to better their lives as a country. Their imports and exports help contribute to the overall
economic resources for everyday routines and lifestyles; however, a great percentage of Haiti,
more than the Dominican Republic are living a life with access to the bare minimum compare to
other countries, which demonstrates how significant the issue of poverty is.
Significance to Geography
On a global scale poverty is significant to world geography because the vast amount of
the population have experienced or seen someone living in poverty. With poverty comes the
distribution of wealth, which widens the gap between the rich and the poor. In relation, natural
disasters can destroy the stability they once had. Instability brings forth debt bondage with the
government and loan companies, discomfort, struggle, and survival mode. The physical and
cultural aspect of geography is what shapes our world, which could have a positive or negative
influence globally. The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those
who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little. Franklin D.
Roosevelt

Running head: Effects of Poverty in Haiti

References
Haiti facts. (n.d.). Tulane University - New Orleans, LA. Retrieved from http://tulane.edu
Poverties in Haiti. (n.d.). Poverty in Haiti: The Impact of Aid, Earthquakes & Imperialism.
Retrieved from http://poverties.org/poverty-in-haiti.html
Cacophonies of Aid, Failed State Building and NGOs in Haiti: setting the stage for disaster,
envisioning the future, Laura Zanotti, Third World Quarterly 2010
Haiti - Debt Relief, The Economist Intelligence Unit 2009
Export processing zones: The purported glimmer in Haitis development murk, Yasmine
Shamsie, Review of International Political Economy 2009
Haiti's Fault Lines: Made in the U.S.A., Marie Kennedy and Chris Tilly, Dollars & Sense
2010
Late presentation for HIV care in central Haiti: factors limiting access to care, C. Louis et al.,
AIDS Care 2007
Oxfam mobilises staff worldwide to help Haiti, Michelle Stevens, People Management 2010
A graduation pathway for Haitis poorest: Lessons learnt from Fonkoze, K. Huda & A.
Simanowitz, Enterprise Development and Microfinance 2009
Poverty in Haiti, Pal Sletten & Willy Egset, Fafo 2004
Unjust embargo of aid for Haiti, Paul Farmer et al., The Lancet 2003
The World Factbook. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.indexmundi.com
Central Intelligence Agency. (n.d.). Welcome to the CIA Web Site Central Intelligence
Agency. Retrieved from http://cia.gov

Running head: Effects of Poverty in Haiti