• POVERTY

• Poverty
There are many myths and stereotypes – and many theories exist about the
poor and the causes of poverty. It focuses on societal needs and social forces as
explained by sociologist. It is also define as lack of sufficient wealth (usually
understood as capital, money, material, goods or resources, especially natural
resources) to live what is understood in society as “normal life”. An example of a
normal is when we are capable of raising a healthy family, by providing all the basic
needs, and especially educating children and participating in a society.
• Poverty
Poverty is an outcome of longstanding conflicts between haves and have-nots.
It has an effect of limiting opportunities and justifying social inequality. Thus, poverty
is perpetuated through class discrimination and unequal opportunities for upward
mobility. Hence, it is often strongly correlated with social problems such as crime,
disease, squatting, unemployment, homelessness, terrorism, malnutrition and
illiteracy.
• Poverty
As a result, many societies employ social workers from the Department of Social
Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the National Anti Poverty Commission (NAPC) to
fight poverty by variety of methods, which range from moral persuasion to financial
subsidy to physical coercion.
• Poverty
The following are the social, scientific and cultural disciplines about poverty:

• In economics. There are two kinds of poverty being considered: the relative
and absolute.

• Absolute poverty is defined in terms of cash income or expenditures in

food, clothing and shelter.

• Poverty
The following are the situations of a family under absolute poverty:

• The family cannot afford to buy adequate and balanced diet food;
• They cannot afford to buy at least 3 sets of clothing;
• They cannot send their children even up to Grade VI;
• They cannot attend to their medical needs, such as buying vitamins, medicine
for their illness;
• Poverty
• They don’t pay attention to the sanitation of their families, home and
surroundings; and
• They cannot pay their house rentals.

Relative poverty – it is defined in terms of median family income. According to the

National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), the median family income can be
determined by arranging the different income ranges by increasing or decreasing
order, then determine the middle-income level. People earning lower than the median
family income are considered poor.
• Poverty
• In politics – the fight against poverty is usually regarded as a social goal, and
most governments have done so, through active intervention in the form of
housing plans, social pensions, special job opportunities, or requirements.

• In law – it is recognized as a mitigating factor for the determination of

punishment. Poverty is considered as one of the causes of increased crime rates
amongst the poor by increasing their stress.
• Poverty
• In education – poverty affects the learning ability of the pupils to effectively
profit from the conducive learning environment. No matter how much the
teacher motivates, if the children are hungry, no learning will take place.
Pupils coming from poor families, whose primary needs are not met as
described in Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, the need for a stable home to live
in, clothes to keep them warm and protect them from the heat of the sun and
regular meals, are hampered in their ability to learn.
• Poverty
There is a term used in education circles which states that:

“the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer and this is called the Mathew
Effect.”

• Causes of Poverty
Poverty is a political issue. People with the right-wing views often consider it as
related to laziness and population explosion.

Those who are of the leftists view poverty as related to social justice, lack of
opportunity in education, graft and corruption and unequal distribution of wealth.
• Types Causes of Poverty
• Individual

Poverty is explained by individual circumstances and/or characteristics of

people. Some examples are:
 Status of education, skills, experience and intelligence;
 Health, handicap, and age;
 Work orientation, time horizon, and culture of poverty and;
 Discrimination, together with race and sec, etc.
• Types Causes of Poverty
• Aggregate

There are two types of the aggregate poverty theory and these are: case and
generic.
 • Case – According to this theory, aggregate poverty is just the sum of
individual poverty.
• Generic – This is explained by general economy-wide problems, such as:
 Inadequate non-poverty employment opportunities;
 Inadequate overall demand (macro problems, macro policy)
 Low national income (Less Developed Country).
• Eliminating Poverty
The following are the different measures that should be considered in addressing the
underlying causes of poverty:

• Broaden access to education and technology among the marginalized

groups, and especially among girls and women.

If all the citizens are educated and have developed their inherent
potentials or God-given talent, especially the women who have strong
bearing on the well-being of their families, no one will become poor.
• Eliminating Poverty
• Share the benefit of economic growth through an emphasis on more
widespread employment.

The government policies should consider not only aggregate economic

impact, but also the equal distribution of employment. Socially
responsive venture capital and micro credit initiatives can foster
employment-generating businesses that complement the local culture
and environment.
• Eliminating Poverty
• Rout out corruption, which harms society as a whole.

What places a heavy cost on society is the effect of graft and corruption,
not only in the government but in businesses as well.
• Eliminating Poverty
• Improve government capacity to provide universal access to
essential goods and services, including potable water, affordable
food, primary health care, education, housing and other social
services.

Government should make a commitment to these social welfare

programs. It is often politically difficult to raise adequate resources
through effective taxation and other mechanisms.
• Eliminating Poverty
Non-government Organizations (NGOs) play also a vital role in the actual
provision of services by providing essential assistance and help articulate
a vision of a healthy society.