2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Poverty
The following are the social, scientific and cultural
disciplines about poverty:
1. 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.
6. Poverty
The following are the situations of a family under absolute
poverty:
1. The family cannot afford to buy adequate and balanced
diet food;
2. They cannot afford to buy at least 3 sets of clothing;
3. They cannot send their children even up to Grade VI;
4. They cannot attend to their medical needs, such as
buying vitamins, medicine for their illness;
7. Poverty
5. They don’t pay attention to the sanitation of their
families, home and surroundings; and
6. 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.
8. Poverty
2. 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.
3. 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.
9. Poverty
4. 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.
10. 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.”
11. 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.
12. Types Causes of Poverty
A. 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.
13. Types Causes of Poverty
B. Aggregate
There are two types of the aggregate poverty theory and these
are: case and generic.
1. Case – According to this theory, aggregate poverty is just the
sum of individual poverty.
2. 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).
14. Eliminating Poverty
The following are the different measures that should be
considered in addressing the underlying causes of poverty:
1. 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.
15. Eliminating Poverty
2. 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.
16. Eliminating Poverty
3. 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.
17. Eliminating Poverty
4. 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.
18. 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.
