How is poverty defined by different scholars?
William Jenkins
Updated on December 27, 2025
The UN has defined poverty as: a condition characterized by severe deprivation of basic human needs, including food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, health, shelter, education and information. It depends not only on income but.
What are the 6 types of poverty?
However you define it, poverty is complex; it does not mean the same thing for all people. For the purposes of this book, we can identify six types of poverty: situational, generational, absolute, relative, urban, and rural. Situational poverty is generally caused by a sudden crisis or loss and is often temporary.
What is poverty according to experts?
Poverty, the state of one who lacks a usual or socially acceptable amount of money or material possessions. Poverty is said to exist when people lack the means to satisfy their basic needs. In this context, the identification of poor people first requires a determination of what constitutes basic needs.
What are two ways that poverty is defined?
Poverty is measured in the United States by comparing a person’s or family’s income to a set poverty threshold or minimum amount of income needed to cover basic needs. To do so, it uses two main measures, the official poverty measure and the Supplemental Poverty Measure, both of which are described in this FAQ.
What is the legal definition of poverty?
If a family’s total income is less than the family’s threshold, then that family and every individual in it is considered in poverty. The official poverty definition uses money income before taxes and does not include capital gains or noncash benefits (such as public housing, Medicaid, and food stamps).
What is poverty very short answer?
Poverty is a state or condition in which a person or community lacks the financial resources and essentials for a minimum standard of living. Poverty means that the income level from employment is so low that basic human needs can’t be met.
What is poverty summary?
poverty is living life in despairity where we feel lack of various things. Poverty is living life without hope, better foodstuffs, medicinal care, proper sanitation and proper education. It is like an acid that destroys pride, honour, health and future.
What is poverty short answer?
Poverty is about not having enough money to meet basic needs including food, clothing and shelter. The World Bank Organization describes poverty in this way: “Poverty is hunger. Poverty is lack of shelter.
What are effects of poverty?
Poverty is linked with negative conditions such as substandard housing, homelessness, inadequate nutrition and food insecurity, inadequate child care, lack of access to health care, unsafe neighborhoods, and underresourced schools which adversely impact our nation’s children.
What are two causes of poverty?
Here, we look at some of the top causes of poverty around the world.
- Inadequate access to clean water and nutritious food.
- Little or no access to livelihoods or jobs.
- Conflict.
- Inequality.
- Poor education.
- Climate change.
- Lack of infrastructure.
- Limited capacity of the government.
Is poverty a hindrance to success?
Poverty is not a hindrance to ones’ success. If you will work very hard, nothing is impossible. When you are poor, that does not mean that you will never succeed. When you are poor, and you don’t have anything to pay for your education, make an action.
What is the main idea of essay What is poverty?
Answer: The main idea was poverty is not about having enough money to meet basic needs of people in daily activites.
What are the main causes of poverty class 9?
What are the causes of poverty? Explain in at least 5 points
- Increase rate of rising population:
- Less productivity in agriculture:
- Less utilization of resources:
- A short rate of economic development:
- Increasing price rise:
- Unemployment:
- Shortage of capital and able entrepreneurship:
- Social factors:
What is the introduction of poverty?
What are two major types of poverty?
There are two main classifications of poverty:
- Absolute poverty – is a condition where household income is below a necessary level to maintain basic living standards (food, shelter, housing).
- Relative poverty – A condition where household income is a certain percentage below median incomes.
What is poverty in your own words?
Poverty is about not having enough money to meet basic needs including food, clothing and shelter. However, poverty is more, much more than just not having enough money. The World Bank Organization describes poverty in this way: “Poverty is hunger. Most often, poverty is a situation people want to escape.
In the United States the definition of poverty is an individual with income less than $36 per day or a family of four with income less than $72 per day. This is calculated from the poverty threshold as set by the U.S. Census Bureau. – See Poverty Threshold Page.
What are the main indicators of poverty?
Poverty is looked through social indicators like:
- Illiteracy level.
- Lack of general resistance due to malnutrition.
- Lack of access to health care.
- Lack of opportunities.
- Lack of access to safe drinking water.
- Lack of access to safe sanitation facilities.
What is an example of absolute poverty?
Absolute poverty is caused by debt, world population increases, natural disasters, conflicts, and child labor. An example of absolute poverty includes a 12-year-old boy who has never been to see a doctor or attended school.
Which is the best definition of the word poverty?
Poverty is a state or condition in which a person or community lacks the financial resources and essentials for a minimum standard of living. Poverty-stricken people and families might go without…
What are the different types of extreme poverty?
1. Absolute poverty. 2. Relative Poverty. 3. Situational Poverty. 4. Generational Poverty. 5. Rural Poverty. 6. Urban Poverty. Now let us understand them one by one: 1. Absolute poverty: Also known as extreme poverty or abject poverty, it involves the scarcity of basic food, clean water, health, shelter, education and information.
What do you mean by depth of poverty?
Measuring the poverty gap(how far below the poverty line a person or a household is – also known as depth of poverty) captures the average shortfall in income of the population living below the poverty line.
When do people in poverty live in poverty?
People live in poverty when they are denied an income sufficient for their material needs and when these circumstances exclude them from taking part in activities which are an accepted part of daily life in that society.” “The most commonly used way to measure poverty is based on incomes.