Question

Do you think there is an increase or decrease in the poverty rate? What changed and what do you think brought on those changes (from a sociological perspective )

Answer 1

Social stratification is increasing around the world which shows that more people are getting richer or more socially and economically stable while others are losing their benefits like financial stability and basic services like health and quality of life. In countries like Brazil, poverty has risen terrifyingly due to unstable government, corruption and ineffective social policies. In other countries due to corrupt governments, such as Venezuela, the level of poverty has reached such high levels that the entire lower strata of the social pyramid can already be considered as poor. Therefore, the level of poverty in the world is increasing, especially in countries with a history of social and political problems, which shows that the main cause of the increase in poverty comes from social stratification, which in turn is initiated through failed government policies or for the benefit of smaller, dominant groups whether socially, financially or politically.

Answer 2

In general terms, extreme poverty and poverty rates have been decreasing worldwide since the mid-1990 but in uneven ways in different regions of the world. The biggest decline in poverty rate took place in China, India and South-East Asia due to the economic development these countries experienced since 1990 to this day.

Also, Sub-Saharan Africa and some countries of Latin America experienced a decline in poverty rates thanks to the application of the Millenium Development Goals by the United Nations. These objectives include: eradicating extreme poverty and hunger; achieve universal primary education; promote gender equality and empower women; reduce child mortality; improve maternal health; combat HIV and malaria; ensure environmental sustainability; and Global partnership for development. These eight goals were designed to be achieved by 2015 and in 2016 were replaced by the Sustainable Development Goals.

Some of the most important changes that the decline of extreme poverty brings are, in general, a slow decrease of population growth, an improvement in quality life standards, and the increment of consumerism and demand of more commercial goods, since the decline of poverty results in the entry of more people into the global market.