What is Absolute and Relative Poverty?

Question 1

Absolute poverty

Answer 1

Absolute poverty is defined by the UN as earning less than $2.15 a day

Question 2

What is the Brant line?

Answer 2

The Brandt Line is an imaginary division that has provided a rough way of dividing all of the countries in the world in to the rich north and poor south. Many countries in the poor south have become more developed since the 1980s and so many people now think that the Brandt line is no longer useful.

Question 3

What is relative poverty

Answer 3

Relative poverty is the condition in which people lack the minimum amount of income needed in order to maintain the average standard of living in the society in which they live.

Question 4

Cycle of poverty

Answer 4

Poor household
Little food, unclean water, no school
Diseases, infections, no energy and skills to work
Low productivity
Low or no income
Low self esteem, no personal control
High child births, sick elderly, more dependents
Poor household

Question 5

Causes of poverty

Answer 5

Location — trading
Climate — crop growing
Natural hazards
Access to education and healthcare
Gender equality
War
Politics — unstable or stable?