What's Poverty? Meaning, Causes, and How to Measure

Poverty is a state of deprivation in which a person or community lacks the financial resources to meet basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter, and healthcare. Poverty can be absolute, meaning that a person's income is below a certain threshold, or relative, meaning that a person's income is insufficient to meet the standards of living in their society.

There are many causes of poverty, including low wages, unemployment, lack of education, and discrimination. Poverty can have a devastating impact on individuals and families, leading to poor health, low educational attainment, and social isolation. It can also lead to crime and social unrest.

There are a number of ways to measure poverty. One common measure is the poverty line, which is the income level below which a family is considered to be in poverty. The poverty line is set at a different level in each country, based on the cost of living. Another way to measure poverty is to use the Gini coefficient, which is a measure of inequality. The Gini coefficient ranges from 0 to 1, with 0 representing perfect equality and 1 representing perfect inequality.

Poverty is a complex problem with no easy solutions. However, there are a number of things that can be done to address poverty, including increasing the minimum wage, providing job training and education, and expanding access to healthcare and other social services.

Poverty is a global issue. In 2015, the World Bank estimated that 1.3 billion people lived in absolute poverty, meaning that they lived on less than \$1.90 per day. The majority of the world's poor live in developing countries, but poverty also exists in developed countries.

Poverty is a major cause of suffering and inequality. It can have a devastating impact on individuals, families, and communities. Poverty can lead to poor health, low educational attainment, and social isolation. It can also lead to crime and social unrest.

There are a number of things that can be done to address poverty. These include increasing the minimum wage, providing job training and education, and expanding access to healthcare and other social services. It is important to remember that poverty is a complex problem with no easy solutions. However, by working together, we can make a difference in the lives of the world's poor.