Causes of Poverty

Poverty today is a major global issue. Although, there are all kinds of definitions used to explain it, in simple words, it means the inability of a person to even get his basic needs of food, shelter, clothing, safe drinking water, health and education met. You will be surprised to know that poverty is not limited to the continents of Asia and Africa. In fact, if you look at the statistics, in the year 2009, there were around 45 million people living in poverty in America, which is amongst the world leaders today! It is one phenomenon which is found in each and every corner of the world, although the causes may differ from country to country. Given below are the main causes of poverty in the world today, followed by the reasons for the same in the United States of America.

Reasons for Poverty in the World

Overpopulation
This is simple mathematics. If there are more mouths to feed and very less income, definitely many will remain deprived. Thus, on an individual level as well as societal level, over population is one of the main culprits behind the menace of poverty.

Lack of Proper Governance and Corruption
In many countries, there is widespread corruption amongst the political class. Most of the money aimed for the welfare of the poor, lands in the pockets of the politicians. When the poor do not get any benefit from the education or employment programs meant for them, they continue to wallow in poverty.

Illiteracy
If you look at any of the under developed countries, the literacy rates will be very low. Lack of education means lack of employment avenues, thus leading to no income in the future and unemployment coupled with poverty.

Immigration
Immigration or moving away from one's own homeland to another city or country, in search of employment, leads to poverty too. Immigrants may take time finding jobs. Meanwhile they live in deplorable conditions. The cost of living in the city or country they have shifted to is most of the time too high for them to afford a decent living.

Unequal Distribution of Resources
Another reason is unequal distribution of resources among the developed and the developing countries. The developed countries, just like in the colonial era, continue to take raw materials and natural resources from developing countries in Asia and Africa. They manufacture goods and then sell them at higher rates in these very markets. This increases the dependency of the developing countries on the developed countries, thus leading to overall non development and poverty.

Poverty in America

Emergence of Suburbs
As the suburbs came up in the major cities of America, many businesses and employers shifted base to the outer city areas. This created a dearth of employment opportunities for underclass people who resided in the cities. Unemployment thus, is one of the major causes in the United States.

Changes in Business Scenario
Another cause behind poverty in the US is the change in the business scenario. A couple of decades ago, manufacturing industries like steel, textile and auto companies flourished, which employed a lot of African-American people. But now, the focus is more on information technology and health-care, both of which employ only skilled and trained people. This has led to unemployment amongst the black community.

Lack of Education
Certain communities in America such as Hispanics and blacks, see a higher drop out rate in education as compared to others. When proper education is not given, the people are unable find employment, thus leading to widespread poverty in these communities.

Attitude of People
Another theory which is used as an explanation for poverty in America is that in certain families, it is passed on from one generation to another. People do not want to take any action to uplift themselves from the sorry situation they are in. They are all right with staying unemployed, without a proper house, sometimes even without food, but they would not make any efforts to change this situation. Children in such families who grow up watching their parents tend to do the same and thus, poverty is like a spiral passing on from one family member to another, with no one being able to escape it.

Rise in Single Women Families
With the changes in society's outlook towards marriages, there have been high incidences of divorces, abandonment and separations. This has led to increase in the number of households headed by single women. These women might not be equipped to find employment. Some of them could be school dropouts. Unwanted pregnancies or children further compound the problems of these single women, thus leading to poverty.

Once a person or community is trapped in the vicious circle of poverty, it's very difficult to break away from the same. It has many ill effects on the society such as increase in illnesses, criminalization, homelessness, depression, etc. That's why steps should be taken at all levels - individual, societal, national and international, to curb it!