Poverty

This module encounters the multi-faceted nature of poverty in both, developing and industrialised countries

Poverty terminology

There is no universal definition of poverty; it varies according to the historical and geographical context. Experts agree that the term poverty is multi-faceted and deals with economic and political aspects as well as social and cultural ones. As a consequence poverty means more than just a low income per head; it has various layers and combines objective living condition with subjective evaluations. Thus differing reasons will be valid for users of this website as to why they define Amanda, Anton, Naima or Yousef as „poor“.

In the literature a distinction is often drawn between „absolute poverty“ and „relative poverty“. While the former (also known as extreme poverty) is found in developing countries, the issue in industrialised countries is relative poverty.

Task

Try to find out, through the ordering of the following descriptions, what is hiding behind this distinction:

I have less than 1.25 US-dollars (0.90 €) purchasing power per day and constantly battle to survive. I cannot cover my basic needs (nutrition, accommodation and clothing) and am unfortunately usually undernourished, hungry and ill and therefore have a low life expectancy.

Correct answer: Absolute poverty

I am restricted in my opportunities as I suffer from a lack of material (objects) and non-material (services) goods. In comparison with the societal wealth in my country, I have a low income. Within the EU I have a maximum of 60% of the mean national net income. As a single Austrian that is 1,066€ per month.

Correct answer: Relative poverty

Sources

Bredemeyer, Bernd/ Wiards, Mathias (2012): Geld. Das maßlose Medium. Braunschweig: Westermann
http://www.armutskonferenz.at/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=243&Itemid=236
http://www.armutskonferenz.at/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=71&Itemid=102

Poverty

Poverty terminology

Task

Further reading

Sources