The 7 Most Common Causes of Poverty
One of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is to end poverty in all its forms around the world by 2030. According to the UN, around 10% of the world’s population (~734 million people) lives on less than $1.90 a day. The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the poverty crisis, with an estimated 120 million individuals being pushed into poverty over the last year and a half. In order to end poverty, we must first understand the root issues that lead to it. These are the 7 most common causes of poverty:
Lack of Access to Food and Clean Water - One of the leading causes of poverty is a lack of access to food and clean water. It’s difficult to have the energy to work when you are suffering from hunger and thirst. This also makes individuals more vulnerable to preventable diseases.
Warfare/Conflict - Warfare and conflict disrupt and stall financial markets and economic growth, lowering investor confidence which leads to job losses. Insecurity often causes displacement of the population, which leads to poverty as citizens struggle to access basic necessities to survive, like food and water.
Lack of Jobs - Another cause of poverty is a lack of jobs in a certain area. This can be a result of conflict, economic recessions, and geographic locations, like rural areas with fewer work opportunities. When there are not enough jobs available, it is impossible for people to make a living and break the cycle of poverty. Where jobs are available, a lack of matching skills is the gap that needs to be bridged via education and skills training as Tiyara seeks to do.
Social Injustice - Social injustice can also lead to poverty when specific groups of people are discriminated against based on their race, nationality, caste, gender, sexual orientation, or religion. This discrimination prevents these individuals from improving their situation in different ways, such as difficulty getting a good education, decreased job opportunities, and limited access to other resources that could help them break the cycle of poverty.
Lack of Infrastructure - A lack of infrastructure also contributes to poverty. Infrastructure includes things like roads, bridges, internet access, and public transportation, which are vital for people to travel, interact, and communicate. Without proper infrastructure, people may not be able to travel to work and make money, or they may have to spend all of their time traveling to obtain food and water.
Climate Change - Climate change is also a major factor in causing poverty, as severe storms, floods, and droughts are capable of crippling economies and devastating communities. Agricultural communities are particularly vulnerable because they can lose both their source of income and their food supply. Severe weather conditions have the ability to undermine successful economies as well as ravage struggling areas even further.
Lack of Education - One of the main causes of poverty is the lack of a good education. Education is often referred to as “the great equalizer,” because educated individuals are better equipped to deal with issues, obtain good jobs, are empowered to negotiate better wages, and ultimately pull themselves out of poverty. However, access to a good education is not universal and many people around the world don’t receive the educational opportunities they need.
At Tiyara, we believe education should be accessible and affordable for all to help break the cycle of poverty. We provide educational opportunities that will make life-changing differences for under-resourced young women and men in India, equipping them to pursue professional and skilled employment. We recently ran a two-week campaign to buy one of our scholars a laptop that allowed her to complete her senior thesis and graduate in July. You can help make a difference by providing technology for other students or even put a deserving young person through college by contributing to our cause today!
