Ending Poverty

By Anna Levy

Introduction

The first of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations is to “end poverty in all its forms everywhere” by mobilizing resources and developing programs to ensure equal opportunity and economic rights for people of all genders, socioeconomic classes, and races. Led by their Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the UN aims to address all factors relating to economic inequality--including employment, social integration, and external and internal conflict--and to assist governments in effective policy implementation strategies. Despite remarkable gains in the eradication of poverty since the late 1900s, the rate of progress is uneven; thus, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, paired with the 17 Development Goals, serves as a universal call to action to protect the lives and rights of those in need and to end poverty once and for all. 

But what exactly does “poverty” mean? There are many definitions of poverty as well as six main types of poverty: situational, generational, absolute, relative, urban, and rural. The different types of poverty are defined by factors like sudden crises, family history, access to basic needs, income, and population statistics. The variety of these factors highlights the complexity of the issue, and suggests a multi-faceted approach to “fixing” poverty on a global level that takes into account social and political--in addition to economic--factors. 

The Coronavirus and Poverty

For the first time in thirty years, the number of people living in extreme poverty is increasing globally, and the impact of the coronavirus threatens to reverse decades of progress in the fight to support developing economies and provide basic resources to all people. According to the United Nations, more than 10 percent of the world’s population lives in extreme poverty, with concentrated numbers in rural areas and in sub-Saharan Africa. Furthermore, as of 2018, 8 percent of employed workers worldwide lived in extreme poverty as well as 1 in 5 children. While it is impossible to accurately predict the rise of poverty levels in 2020 or the exact effects of COVID-19 on these trends, it is clear that seriously affected countries are in a particularly vulnerable position and that those below the poverty line need economic support now more than ever. 

Race and Poverty

Poverty encompasses not just a lack of income and access to resources but also a lack of public representation and equality; different social groups--whether it be race, gender, or socioeconomic class--have disproportionate levels of susceptibility to poverty due to social factors that are often omitted in economic discussions. Therefore, having a social perspective on sustainable development and poverty is essential to tackling the causes of the issue and coming closer to creating qualitative change in places of need. 

Within the United States, poverty varies significantly among races with Native American and Black ethnicities having the highest rate of poverty--more than double the rate of White and Asian ethnicities. Similarly, 2-4% more women than men live in poverty in the United States as a result of workplace inequality and limited access to higher-paying positions. Experts often argue whether personal decisions or environmental factors play a larger role in the issue of poverty. However, there is no question that certain groups are automatically more susceptible poverty due to factors outside of individual control, specifically African Americans, Latino Americans, children, women, and disabled persons. Members of these groups are statistically more likely to be raised in poor neighborhoods, inadequately educated, or discriminated against in the workplace. Many of these groups are also vulnerable to the effects of generational poverty, which creates an unequal baseline for opportunity and success. Before turning our heads towards issues of personal ability and ambition, we must first address the general issue of inequality and discrimination in both America and in the world at large so that we can target poverty at its source and implement accurate and effective government programs. 

What can we do to help?

In the past decade, significantly more people have gained access to important economic resources like healthcare, employment opportunities and education. However, the recent coronavirus outbreak as well as racial injustices and police brutality threaten to disrupt the course towards positive change. As such, it is essential now more than ever that we as individuals emerge as leaders rather than bystanders, and help to develop the technology necessary to provide resources to people in need and create sustainable economies throughout the world. One place we can start is in our schools; in order to eliminate the achievement gap, we must direct our energy towards both school improvement and socioeconomic improvement, so that we can eliminate biases towards disadvantaged students. However, schooling alone cannot combat poverty. Instead, we must combine improved schooling techniques with political and economic reforms to eliminate socioeconomic inequalities through funding and increased opportunity. 

Clearly, the issue of poverty is multifaceted, and addressing its foundation in racial and socioeconomic inequality is even a more complex and daunting task. So, many might ask,  is it possible to truly end poverty? One thing to keep in mind is that poverty is a man-made issue, started and facilitated by the inaction of global communities. Moreover, while the concept of “poorness” is relative, extreme poverty is not. Thus, even though a “utopian economy” may be a fabricated concept, there are always actions we can take to eliminate extreme poverty and promote the development of impoverished nations throughout the world. 

Sources:

1. DoSomething.org. 2018. 11 Facts About Global Poverty [Internet]. Available from: https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-global-poverty#:~:text=Nearly%201%2F2%20of%20the,each%20day%20due%20to%20poverty

2. Jensen, Eric. 2009. “Chapter 1: Understanding the Nature of Poverty.” Teaching with Poverty in Mind. Available from: http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/109074/chapters/Understanding-the-Nature-of-Poverty.aspx:

3. Poverty USA. 2018. “The Population of Poverty USA.” The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, D.C. Available from: https://www.povertyusa.org/fact

4. Rothstein, Richard. 2008. “Whose Problem is Poverty?” Educational Leadership; 65(7). Economic Policy Institute. Available from: https://www.epi.org/publication/ascd_whose_problem_is_poverty/

5. United Nations, Sustainable Development Goals, The Sustainable Development Agenda: 17 Goals for People, for Planet. Available from: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/development-agenda/#:~:text=17%20Goals%20for%20People%2C%20for,and%20prospects%20of%20everyone%2C%20everywhere.&text=2020%20needs%20to%20usher%20in,deliver%20the%20Goals%20by%202030.