Factors of poverty worldwide
This is a big picture. This list is incomplete and those listed, like war, have causes of their own, but it is important to see the many layers of the problem.
What causes poverty to be so much worse globally than in the US?
- Effects of colonialism, multi-national corporations, and the “dumping” of excess goods from the developed world on developing markets
- The high cost of debt
- Corrupt or poor government leadership
- The effects of war and genocide
- Climate and climate change: drought and floods are the leading causes of global hunger (Source: http://www.wfp.org/hunger/causes)
- Cultural traditions and the subordinated role of women
- Inequality in land rights and inheritance
In the US there are a disproportionate number of families at risk for poverty and hunger who are African American, Hispanic, or are headed by single mothers. Some reasons are listed below, but their affects are certainly not only experienced by these groups. These factors are also found outside of the United States.
- Many facing poverty work or are trying to work, their wages or hours are just not enough to make ends meet
- Problems with access to education, expense of college, quality of public schools, size of classes, opportunities to go to trade schools
- Outside influences: racism, sexism, ageism
- Job opportunities
- Access to transportation
- Cost of healthcare
- Cost of childcare
- Illness or disability Poverty is a cycle. It can be difficult to break over the course of a life and through generations.
