Poverty Research Paper

Poverty Research Paper

Poverty seems to be a natural condition at least in some areas of the world. It is unlikely that it can be eliminated everywhere. Some economic or social theorists believe that poverty is necessary either because no economic system can be perfectly just or because certain individuals are unable or unwilling to support themselves. There are two main conditions causing poverty. One is an area that is poor in natural resources, such as areas of North Africa. Poverty is widespread because there are no resources to develop the society. The other condition is where individuals take most of the wealth of a country for themselves either by force or by corruption. The Congo is an example of this political condition making for widespread poverty in a society. There is some good news regarding poverty levels in America. As of the year 2000, poverty rates are at their lowest level since 1980. However, that is balanced by the fact that one-sixth of all children in America live in poverty – an increase over the past 20 years. The reason for the increase in child poverty is a function of their living in single-parent households or nuclear families where welfare checks and food stamps have dried up over the years under welfare reform. There is some good news for children in single-parent or other poor American families: their parents are now eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) that will help thousands of American families move above the poverty in household income. Having researched a lot about poverty I have now more than ever understood about why most people in the countries suffer from poverty. You take for example a mother who was previously married with a couple of kids and now divorced with only one income could not support her children without the help of the government supplying her with healthcare and food stamps to get by. I think that poverty could be prevented if things weren’t so expensive in the world now, such as milk being almost 4.00 a gallon from a long time ago when it was 2.00 a gallon. The prices of things now have gone up so much that a person could not support a family on just one income. I myself have a daughter and a husband whom supports us on one income and believe me it is not easy. that’s why I am in college right now so that I will be able to help myself more without relying on other resources. Which brings me to talk about college, many people suffering in poverty do not have the opportunity like I have to go to college to make more money and get out of the situation. They never have the money to build themselves up to higher standards. Poverty is widespread as I mentioned earlier which can also lead to death among people in poverty. About 21,000 people die every day of hunger or hunger-related causes, according to the United Nations. This is one person every four seconds, as you can see on this display. Sadly, it is children who die most often. Yet there is plenty of food in the world for everyone. The problem is that hungry people are trapped in severe poverty. They lack the money to buy enough food