Poverty
Page 1: Poverty
Poverty is the greatest obstacle in developing countries.
Page 2: Understanding Poverty
Poverty is a complex phenomenon not merely reducible to financial metrics.
It is a multidimensional issue requiring integrated, multi-sectoral solutions.
Defined as a state where individuals lack sufficient income to meet basic needs such as clothing, housing, and food.
Human poverty entails deficits in basic human needs including:
Illiteracy
Malnutrition
Reduced life expectancy
Poor maternal health
Susceptibility to preventable diseases
Page 3: Extreme Poverty Statistics
Approximately 800 million people live on less than $1.90 per day (2017), indicating 10.7% of the global population.
Contrast with 42.2% of the world's population living in extreme poverty in 1990.
Although extreme poverty rates are declining, significant inequality persists.
Page 4: Key Terms
Social Stratification: The categorization of society's members into rankings based on factors like wealth, income, race, education, and power.
Social Mobility: Movement of individuals or families between different social strata.
Shocks: Sudden decreases in household income resulting from various factors.
Page 5: Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic
The World Bank reported that lower-income households faced greater income reductions compared to the top 60% during 2020.
Page 6: Coping Mechanisms for Disadvantaged Groups
Disadvantaged communities experience larger, longer-lasting economic shocks.
Coping strategies include:
Reducing savings
Selling assets
These actions hinder economic prospects and future resilience against shocks.
Page 7: The Cycle of Poverty
Growing up in a low-income home leads to:
Hunger and poor health conditions.
Inability to achieve financial sufficiency.
Reduced savings and opportunities for education.
This cycle results in fewer employment opportunities, perpetuating further economic setbacks.
Page 8: Poverty Among Refugees
Special attention is needed for the impoverished conditions faced by refugees.
Page 9: Low Income Cut-Off
Defines a minimum income threshold; families below this are classified as poor.
This cutoff is established by governmental guidelines.
Page 10: Canada's Official Poverty Dashboard Trends (March 2022)
Canada's official poverty rate varies yearly:
In 2022: 14.5%
Historical trend from 2015 to 2020 shows a downward progression.
Key Poverty Indicators:
Deep income poverty (75% of the poverty line): 3.0%
Unmet housing needs: 12.7%
Food insecurity: 11.2%
Youth engagement in education/employment: 11.4%
Low literacy and numeracy rates among 15-year-olds.
Median hourly wage trends for genders and overall resilience measures.
Page 11: Stats Canada Poverty Hub Questions
Questions for reflection include:
What percentage of the Canadian population lives below the poverty line?
Criteria for assessing Adequate, Affordable, and Suitable housing.
Observations on trends in unmet health needs and deep income poverty.
Page 12: Debrief on Budgeting Under the Poverty Cutoff
Reflection on financial situations:
Who has leftover money?
Ability to maintain a healthy diet?
Essentials not included in budget analysis.
Considerations for living expenses in major cities (Toronto, Vancouver).
Page 13: CNBC Analysis on U.S. Poverty Issues
Focus on systemic challenges in addressing poverty in the U.S. context.
Page 14: Social Safety Net (SSN)
Overview of low-income support mechanisms:
Tax credits, monthly payments.
Universal Child Care Benefits (~$560/month).
Old Age Security, Employment Insurance, and Disability support.
Public Healthcare provisions.
Page 15: NIMBYism (Not In My BackYard)
Local opposition to poverty solutions often framed as grassroots efforts.
Common arguments involve concerns about property values, taxes, and idea of 'supporting laziness'.
Page 16: Employed but Homeless Reports
Analysis of the paradox of employment without stable housing.
Page 17: Exit Ticket Reflections
Consideration of which social safety net elements could assist in poverty alleviation.
Observations of NIMBYism in local contexts.