Absolute Poverty: Definition, Causes & Examples

What is Absolute Poverty

Absolute poverty is where an individual is unable to meet their immediate needs. In other words, they are unable to obtain basic necessities such as shelter, water, food and warmth. This is different from a similar term, relative poverty, which is where individuals are poor by comparison to other members of society.

The World Bank uses absolute poverty as its default definition of ‘poverty’. It defines it as anyone living on less than $1.90 a day. This is to distinguish a uniform measure of poverty throughout the world and identify serious cases of poverty. For example, someone in the US would have to earn less than $13,000 per year to fall into relative poverty. However, that works out at $35 per day, well in excess of the $1.90 threshold that the World Bank sets to define absolute poverty.

The terminology of absolute poverty only covers basic needs. We may often hear that poverty is at an all-time high or poverty is increasing. However, this often refers to relative poverty which is based on average income levels of a nation. By contrast, absolute poverty refers to the absence of any human needs such as food or water – think of Sub-Saharan Africa for example.

Causes of Absolute Poverty

When we talk of absolute poverty, we may associate it with under-nourished people from third world nations. This is very different from the relative poverty we see in developed nations such as the US, where the poor still have access to food, water, and shelter. As such, the causes of absolute poverty are very different and generally apply to poorer nations that have an absence of investment and infrastructure. Some examples include:

1. Inadequate Access to Necessities

Inadequate access is particularly prevalent in first and developing world nations. Simply put, it is difficult to find food, water, or shelter. This disproportionately affects those who live in rural areas. They live far away from civilisation, so face greater challenges to satisfy their basic needs.

For instance, the nearest store may be miles away, if not, non-existent. Some rural communities are self-reliant and therefore do not earn a wage but are self-dependant. In turn, this can result in absolute poverty if they are unable to source their immediate needs.

2. Availability of Jobs

In the developed world, the welfare state has largely prevented the lack of available jobs causing absolute poverty, even though it may lead to relative poverty.

With that said, many countries through Africa and the rest of the developing world have faced years of war, colonialism and plunder. Without private property rights, many of these nations resources have been depleted. Businesses are few and far between and foreign investment is discouraged due to corrupt regimes. This restricts the amount of job creation, meaning individuals have to solely rely on themselves for their basic needs.

3. Inadequate Advances in Agriculture

Part of the cause of absolute poverty is simply the lack of advancement in agriculture. If we look at developed nations today, their development stems from such advances that allowed workers to move away from subsistence living. Due to agricultural advances, food became more plentiful, meaning there was more than enough food to go around. In turn, this freed up workers to produce other goods and services within the economy.

As farmer’s output increase, there was too much competition and supply, and not enough demand. The nation’s people were well supplied for, which drove farmers out of the market. Yet it created new avenues for employment, as basic needs were met and workers were freed from toiling the farm.

These advancements in agriculture were driven by increasing levels of education, strong private property rights, and an ease of doing business. Factors that are lacking in many developing nations today. As a result, a nation that is unable to sufficiently feed itself is going to face greater levels of absolute poverty.

4. Movement of Industry

As industries come and go, so too do the jobs they create. We have now moved towards a post-industrialised society whereby we rely on services rather than manufacturing and production. As a result, we have seen the destruction of towns and cities that relied on industry to provide employment.

Factories closed and industry shifted towards services and metropolitan areas. Those who were left behind had to create a life around their skills and expertise. However, the new reality is that millions have either been left without a job, or left the workforce completely.

For many, it is incredibly difficult to move to where jobs are more plentiful, particularly in older age. In many cases, we see people living in absolute poverty due to the absence of jobs. Unable or unwilling to move, they are left to face an existence with a souless local economy.

5. Conflict

War has historically been one of the leading causes of absolute poverty. It destroys capital, trade, investment, and supply chains. Looking at World War Two, it was the costliest war in history. Hundreds of thousands of Russians starved in the siege of Leningrad. That was just one part of the War which is estimated to have cost between 35 to 60 million lives.

Even in small scale conflicts in Africa, wars led to plunder and destruction. For example, natural resources are depleted and become irrecoverable as property rights are abused or are non-existant. This leads a nations people with little in the way of natural resources or a source of income. The very source by which they could achieve a sustainable source of income has been destroyed through years of war and plunder.

6. Poor Education

A nation that is poorly educated is unable to read or write, so communication becomes that much more difficult. Even in nations with a good educational system such as the US, over 4 percent of the population cannot read or write.

Without such basic skills, it is virtually impossible to find a job in a developed nation. Even in developing nations such as India, the necessity to even read and write can be the difference between absolute poverty or a comfortable life.

A report from UNESCO concludes such. It stated that world poverty would be cut in half if all adults were able to complete secondary education. However, without the investment from government, it makes this an unfeasible target.

The UNESCO report joins a number of other studies that have highlighted the link between education and poverty, but what is the logic behind this?

An education is not necessarily just reading and writing; although it is a major part. It is also about learning new ideas, and techniques that can help with everyday life. As such, an education can help specifically with certain skills. For instance, geography and the sciences may assist with agriculture. Or, agricultural techniques may assist a nations people to become more productive, allowing its farmers to move into other industries.

7. Lack of Infrastructure

Without roads, hospitals, railways, and the like, the value of a persons output is significantly restricted. For example, a farmer may be able to produce far in excess of their own consumption.

They are then able to sell some at market. However, without the accessibility of roads and motorways, they are unable to do such. The nearest market may be 10 miles away, which is easily drivable, but a far more strenuous walk with a cart load of produce. This presents a significant barrier that would otherwise allow the farmer a better way of life.