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The Secret of Poverty: Why are the causes of poverty so different in different countries?
Across the world, the causes of poverty show significant diversity. Whether looking at countries, regions, or comparisons with other countries, the causes of poverty vary widely. But the amazing thing is that there are some commonalities between these factors. Analyzing poverty from a philosophical and historical perspective can help us gain a deeper understanding of this social phenomenon.
Behavioral theory emphasizes that individual behavior is driven by incentives and culture, while structural theory focuses on the demographic and labor market context, which together influence behavior and poverty.
Absolute poverty and relative poverty
Poverty can be divided into absolute poverty and relative poverty. According to the World Bank's definition, people earning less than $2.15 a day are considered to be living in extreme poverty. This standard applies mainly to low-income countries. Conversely, in middle-income countries, the poverty threshold is usually higher. However, it should be noted that poor families living in affluent economic systems are still better off than those in economically disadvantaged areas.
Philosophical Perspective
Socialist perspective
The socialist view is that poverty results from the uneven distribution of capital, wealth and resources, which revolves around the interests of the "rich elite". The key to solving poverty is to achieve a redistribution of wealth to ensure that "the main lever of the economy" is no longer privately owned, but shifted to the working class representing "the interests of ordinary people".
Neoliberal perspective
Neoliberalism believes that poverty is caused by the centralization of markets and the complete ownership of commercial enterprises by the government. In such a system, a delicate balance is struck between government and the economy, with the private sector playing an important role in profitability and innovation.
Causes of poverty: micro and macro levels
Micro level
Surveys conducted by the International Food Research Institute show that the main causes of poverty include a lack of ability to invest in property, inadequate educational opportunities and systemic exclusion of racial and social groups. Together, these factors create a vicious cycle of poverty.
Macro level
As for macro factors, scholars point to colonialism and climate change as deep roots of poverty. For example, inadequate social and economic structures resulting from the colonial system, as well as threats to agriculture and water resources from climate change, may lead to an increase in poverty.
Climate change could push more than 100 million people around the world into poverty by 2030. In 2050, Latin America, South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa could face a surge in migration patterns, affecting more than 143 million people.
Main causes of global poverty
The fundamental factors affecting poverty include: lack of basic food and clean water, insufficient medical resources, uneven distribution of resources, lack of educational opportunities, corrupt governance, etc. These problems form the seeds of poverty around the world and are deeply embedded in every aspect of society.
The causes of poverty in different countries
The causes of poverty also appear to vary from country to country. In South Africa, the historical apartheid policy continues to affect the distribution of resources; in the United States, poverty is closely related to racial and educational inequality. These factors remind us that solving the problem of poverty does not happen overnight, but requires well-thought-out strategies and measures.
In short, the causes of poverty vary widely between countries, but this also inspires people to think about how to effectively solve the poverty problem. In this rapidly changing world, how to balance the distribution of resources on a global scale and promote the development of everyone is still a difficult problem to be solved?
