Grade 11 Economics Poverty Lesson

1. Economics
(Poverty)

2. Lesson Objectives:
At the end of the lesson learners should able to:
 Observe pictures and able to Identify people who are affected by poverty.
 Define Poverty.
 Differentiate between absolute and relative poverty.
 Discuss in detail the term chronic poverty.
 Identify Characteristics of poverty.
 Identify and Discuss the effect of poverty.

3. Observing pictures

4. Observing pictures

5. Observing pictures

6. POVERTY
 Definition: Is the condition experienced by people who lack sufficient income and
wealth. It is also a lack of basic items, such as food, clothing, water and shelter, that are
needed for a minimum standard of living.
 There is a close relationship between poverty and inequality, poverty occurs more often
in areas with low average income and highly unequal distribution of that income.
 When people are unable to eat, go to school, have poor housing, access health care they
are considered poor.
 For an example: in the picture above we see people in t que to get food from the non
profit organization that provide lunch for free, getting dirty water and staying in a
squatter camp or shacks.

7. Differentiation between Absolute and
Relative Poverty
Absolute poverty
 It is when people who are poor that
they cannot to meet their basic needs
for food, shelter and clothing.
 This means their living standards is
minimum.
Relative poverty
 It is when people have enough to meet
or buy their basic needs, but not much
more.
 Their living standards are relative
compared to other inhabitants of the
country or other countries.

8. Chronic Poverty
 Is the situation where by groups of people or communities live I poverty over a long
time, sometimes for a duration of their entire lives.
 It moves from generations to generations in families, in a way that is it nearly
impossible to change the condition.

9. Characteristics of poverty
 Rural areas: up to 75% of South Africa's poor live in remote areas, which makes it expensive ad time
consuming for them to reach important facilities such as clinics. This leads to poor health, lack of
education and unemployment.
 Gender and Age: this poverty rate of female headed households is on average 50% higher than that of
male headed households.The unemployment rate among women also higher than among man.
 Low levels of Education: poverty affect 66,3% of those who have no schooling and 59,9% of those
who have not completed primary schooling.
 High population growth: countries with high population growth tend to have more poor people, as
there are not enough resources to meet everyone's needs.
 Countries with low per capita income: most poor people come from countries, which tend to have
highest level of absolute poverty.

10. Effects of poverty
 Limited freedom of life choices: The poor are often not empowered and are forced to work at
certain jobs or to do certain things.
 Health and life expectancy are affected: they have a strong sense of shame and failure, because
often they cannot provide for themselves or their children. Since every form of material poorness
or social exclusion affects peoples physical and mental behavior.
 Limited economic choices :the poor are often prevented from receiving bank loans and other
financial benefits, which makes it difficult for them to establish businesses and increase their
income, which they desperately need to break out of poverty.
 Decrease in productivity: hunger and ill health can lead to greater poverty, because it affects
peoples ability to work and learn.
 Increase in domestic violence: the pressure of being jobless and the risk of loosing ones home
cause a great deal of pressure. The psychological effect of this pressure may lead to violence in
households.

11. South African Poverty Video

12. South African Poverty Audio

13. Activity
 Learners are expected to analyse and investigate the effect of poverty in
their communities, and come up with possible solutions to eliminate
poverty.
Never stop working toward your dreams
good luck!!!