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Global poverty to most of us suggests the poverty of Africa and Asia. However, as an American, I see poverty in the United States, too, although by definition of World Bank global, poverty is rather narrowly defined and the US does not qualify within its definition. According to the World Bank organization, nearly 3 billions of the world population has a daily income 2.50 USD and this is the poverty level of the countries we see around the world, predominantly in Africa and Asia. The conversation below delves into this topic, shedding light into the nature of this global problem.
Adam: I just returned from my trip to Calcutta. I feel listless after seeing with my own eyes how little people have and are dying because of malnutrition.
Mary: I have never been to India yet but, of course, I've heard the poverty level in India. It's sad. Is it enough to blame the people for their own predicament?
Adam: Sadly enough, the well-to-do tends to generalize the poor as lazy; poor people make poor decisions for their lives; poor people do not take advantage of resources available to them, and etc. But, after seeing Calcutta, I feel more strongly that it's immoral to blame only the poor for their predicament.
Mary: What did you see in Calcutta?
Adam: Well. The shear poverty disrupts people lives badly. Their food diet does not include sufficient animal protein, vegetables and fruits. They live in shackles or even on the street. No clear water the people have access to in most part of the city. Having no clear water causes diseases, but no proper medical care or medicine is available to people even for emergency care to treat people.
Mary: Yeah. I know little bit about it as an outsider. India is one of the most populated countries in the world. Almost one billion people live in India. I hear that education is valued in India and US outsource jobs to India because its workforce is well educated and they are hardworking people.
Adam: True. But education, first of all, does not grantee a decent income given that there aren't good jobs paying decent salaries, let alone in Calcutta but all in India. Second, good education is not available to everybody but only to the better-off. US outsource the jobs to India, as you say, Indian workforce is highly educated but even these workers working for US business earn meager salaries. However, this is a different topic besides our topic.
Mary: But, India is a democracy and open market. They have a democratic government to hold accountable. Don't they?
Adam: Yes, India has a democratic government. Indians can vote to choose their elective officials. But, as we see all over the world, poor democracies have to deal with two problems: one how to bring capital to people to develop businesses. Second, they have to distribute resources to people. In addition, government corruption is wide-spread in India just like in other poor countries.
Mary: So, if business capital is available to people, then a good democratic government should be capable of re-distributing resources to people.
Adam: Yeah. Partly capital and efficient government could help to fight poverty. However, I feel that government must have a proactive role in feeding the hungry, treat the sick first. Second, education, housing and healthcare should be available to the ordinary citizen rather than only to the rich.
Mary: So, again you see the poverty as more of a government responsibility to tackle. How about the rich country's intervention, like us, the US?
Adam: Yes, I believe in government intervention in democracies to help to build strong institutions for a just society. Food, medicine, housing and education should be protected by government as basic human rights. So government must insure these benefits, especially to those who otherwise cannot obtain them by themselves.
Mary: How about children? Did you see many children in need of food in Calcutta?
Adam: Yes, I did see poor children, hungry, begging, and sick living on the street. Today, there are over 1 billion children in the world hungry and out of school. In Calcutta impoverished children are so visible.
Mary: Recently, I've read a report published by the United Nations. Many experts in this report believe we can end the global poverty. Rich nations need to get involved more and people of poor countries need to be trained as well. I believe outside help without involving their own people is ineffective.
Adam: True. If all the assistance the US has given to the poor countries in the past to fight poverty had been utilized properly, we would have seen fewer people poor now. Inefficiency and government corruption need to be tackled seriously. Then, the rich countries must do more. If rich countries' assistance is incorporated into reforms the poor country has to launch systemically, then the global poverty is likely to be eradicated.
Sources: Jeffrey Sachs, The End of Poverty (2005); World Bank; UN
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