GLOBAL PATTERNS OF POVERTYCHAPTER 13

FACTS CONCERNING GLOBAL POVERTY

• ½ of the world lives on less than $2 a day

• # of people living in extreme poverty increased by 200 million between 1995 & 2000

• In 2000, 1.5 billion people lived in extreme poverty

• Poverty is one of the major factors driving 250 million into the labour force

• The combined wealth of the three richest people in the world is greater than the combined GNP of the 48 poorest countries

• The income of the richest 20% of the worlds population is 74 times larger than the income of the poorest 20% of the population

• The average family living in Canada is 60x richer than the average family in Ethiopia

GREATEST CHALLENGE

• What do experts view is the greatest challenge facing the human population today?

• POVERTY

Figure 13.2, 13.5 and 13.6

• Write down the title of each into your notebook.

• Briefly describe each figure.• Give important facts for each one.

WHY IS IT DIFFICULT TO DEFINE POVERTY?

• Poor don’t want to be labeled poor• No internationally accepted definition

of “poor”

METHODS TO MEASURE POVERTY

1.ABSOLUTE• You are poor if you

lack the money to buy essential goods and services

• WHAT IS ESSENTIAL???• Vary from place

to place• Canada vs.

Bangladesh?

• 2. RELATIVE• You are poor if

you have much less than most other people in your society.

• How far below the poverty line is “poor”?

• 50%???

HOW DOES CANADA DEFINE POVERTY?

• Federal gov’t uses relative measures• Set’s poverty line at about 50% the

income of the average family living in that community.• Higher in larger cities• Higher for larger families• Single women and families headed by

the elderly make up a high proportion of those living in poverty in Canada.

IDENTIFY AND EXPLAIN THE CONSEQUENCES OF POVERTY.

• In your text on page list the three consequences of poverty and describe each.

1. LACK OF BASIC NECESSITIES- Human, financial, social, physical and natural assets.

2. POWERLESSNESS- Have no voice- Face strict governments- Conditions make it difficult to acquire things of value

3. VULNERABILITY- Poor in society are vulnerable to shocks and

conditions that wealthy people can endure

POVERTY CYCLE

• As a result of poverty, conditions of life remains difficult or even deteriorate for the poor because of negative spirals of consequences- With lower income, sub Saharan Africa has a high

birth rate- Most live in rural areas- Dependent on agriculture- Low literacy rates- Children are an available labour force- Children offer hope and security- Therefore national population grows 2-3% a year- Country struggles to make transition to low fertility

rate

RAPID POPULATON GROWTH

• Rapid population growth leads to the decline in other measures of quality of life.- Infant mortality increases- Life expectancy decreases- Environmental degradation persistent

- The poor lack resources to protect land- Cut down trees for fuel- Overgrazing

- Social systems underdeveloped- Government lacks tax base- Little money to finance schools and hospitals- Cannot teach kids- Cannot fight disease- Women head of family households – girls

uneducated

MAKE POVERTY HISTORY

CAUSES OF POVERTY – Questions to answer

ANSWERS AT THE BOTTOM OF 313• Complete Question 4 on page 313. Use the chart

provided.• Explain how a “right-wing and left-wing” philosophy

view poverty. How do you view poverty. (Answer second part into your global me journal.

• IMPERIAL POWERS AND THE COLONIAL EXPERIENCE. Make notes on this section into your notebook.

• Why did the United States see the need to help war-torn Europe under the Marshall Plan.

• Where did developing nations borrow money from during the 1970’s and why? What problems did this cause.

6. So… who came to the rescue??? Identify the two agencies that have a role in helping developing countries deal with their financial crisis. Explain the role these two organizations play.

7. Explain what occurs in STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENTS. 8. How does structural adjustment encourage globalization?9. Why do some claim structural adjustments for developing

countries are immoral? What is your view?10.What can be done to improve the debt crisis?11.Explain the “working poor” crisis. Use Canada as an

example.12.Identify global trends of poverty in Aboriginal People.

• http://www.makepovertyhistory.org/video/