Course Reflection ( Socio Economics Resources ) ORG-305- What are 3 takeaways of the course you can apply to your career path? Submission Instructions: Your initial post should be at least 150 wor
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Outline: Poverty Causes & Solutions
Jennifer Bacuylima
St. Thomas University
ORG-305-OL2
Professor Perullas
Outline: Poverty Causes & Solutions
I. Introduction
A brief introduction to the issue of poverty prevailing in today's society.
A. Overview: Talk about the economic situation over the past ten years as well as how it has worsened (or, if you prefer, exacerbated the situation) in order to create poverty.
B. Thesis Statement: List down the leading causes of poverty and suggest the ways in which the government and individuals can mitigate poverty.
II. Personal Experience with Poverty
Discuss the personal impact of poverty or its impact on your community.
4. Give an explanation of the economic and social problems that poverty has produced in your conditions.
Describe how your observations have changed your opinion of poverty and ways to solve it.
III. Causes of Poverty
A. Economic Factors
1. Job market instability and unemployment
2. Low wages and income inequality
3. Rising cost of living and inflation
B. Social and Structural Issues
1. Lack of access to quality education
2. Discriminatory policies and systemic inequalities
3. Health care access and medical expenses
C. Government and Policy Failures
1. Insufficient social welfare programs
2. Corruption and misallocation of resources
3. Lack of investment in economic development
IV. Solutions to Poverty
A. Economic Solutions
1. The contribution to job creation and support for small businesses.
2. Arising the minimum wage and enforcing fair labor laws
3. Affordable housing programs
B. Education and Social Reforms
1. Education and vocational training
2. Expanding access to healthcare and social services
3. Policies that reduce racial and gender income gaps are implemented
C. Government Policy Changes
1. In order to strengthen welfare programs to offer adequate support
2. Boosting economic opportunities through encouraging public-private partnerships
3. Reducing the income inequality through tax reforms
V. Advice to a Government Official
A. Rally for policies that champion a stable economy and job security.
B. Encourage investments in education, healthcare, and social programs.
C. Promote sustainable economic growth through fair taxation and resource allocation.
VI. Conclusion
A. Relate the significant causes of poverty and explain suggested answers to these problems.
B. Emphasize the importance of government intervention and social responsibility.
III. End with a call to action for policymakers and society to fight poverty together.
Poverty Causes & Solutions
I. Introduction
Poverty prevents millions of people worldwide from having access to basic requirements like food, shelter, and medical care. Despite national economic growth, poverty cycles back over and over again. Economic tides have been turning against low-income families worldwide over the past decade, and rising costs, unpaired with stagnant wages, have brought suffering. The longer demand for essential goods and the fewer job opportunities under fragile safety programs will deepen the problem of poverty. Low-income people face many challenges, including poor results in education and unequal social treatment (Walker et al., 2022). New employment opportunities should be promoted while education quality is improved and more effective public assistance initiatives are developed. Join skill development sessions to make steps together to support equal opportunities in education and pay. To fight against the root causes of poverty, society must update public rules and community efforts so that everyone can find their fair place in life.
Personal Experience with Poverty
I grew up in a low-income neighborhood and got to see firsthand how poverty affects people and families every day. I had so many neighbors who didn't have much financially and were struggling to buy food, buy a house, and get health care. The lack of economic stability led to high-stress levels, poor health outcomes, and restricted educational opportunities for children. They had to take multiple jobs — many — in order to survive, yet still couldn't pay their bills (Saujani, 2022). Socially, poverty also had effects as people were divided by resources, and those with less would tend to believe that they were being left out of opportunities to lift themselves. These experiences helped me come to understand the nature of poverty — not just about financial challenges but the way in which systemic barriers stop people from pulling themselves out of it. I think it takes both government intervention and community support to address poverty. Long-term solutions are, therefore, policies that promote fair wages, affordable education, and healthcare access. Furthermore, there are community-supported efforts, like job training and financial literacy programs, that can help individuals break out of the cycle of poverty and build a more positive future.
Causes of Poverty
Economic Factors
Economic instability is one of the root causes of poverty because it promotes job market movement and increases the rate of unemployment. Many people struggle to get a better job than what these low-paying jobs can offer, even less security in the future of their finances. Income inequality pushes it even further: the divide between the haves and the haves is so vast that almost no one can climb the socioeconomic ladder (Jimenez & Roig, 2021). At the same time, inflation and higher living costs make necessities of life, such as housing, health care, and education, increasingly out of reach for more people, making them poorer.
Social and Structural Issues
Most significantly, many people can’t access quality education, which means they can’t get well-paying jobs that will help them move out of a cycle of poverty. In addition to discriminatory policies and systemic inequality, other marginalized groups face a longer road to financial stability. Furthermore, low-income families are forced to choose between medical care and other needs, and healthcare costs compound their current economic situation.
Government and Policy Failures
Many governments do not adequately fund social welfare programs for struggling populations. Funds never reach those who need them, and corruption and misallocation of economic resources make economic disparities worse (Hope, 2024). Additionally, genuine economic development will also fall short when it comes to creating jobs and generating innovation as people are put into poverty and forced to live in abject poverty with no hope of becoming economically independent.
IV. Solutions to Poverty
Economic Solutions
One effective way to reduce poverty is by creating jobs and supporting small businesses. Then governments and private sectors must invest in industries with employment opportunities so that people can have an income that they can rely upon. Raise the minimum wage and enforce fair labor laws to guarantee that workers are paid a living wage, which alleviates the economic struggles for low-income families (Barford et al., 2022). Additionally, affordable housing programs can also assist in providing shelter to those who cannot afford high rent and otherwise risk becoming homeless and struggling financially as a whole.
Education and Social Reforms
Education and vocational training allow people to learn the proper skills to advance their job opportunities and break the cycle of poverty. They also give more access to healthcare and social services so that low-income people can get needed medical care without worrying about the cost (Tyagi et al., 2021). For example, policies that reduce racial and gender income gaps also foster economic equity in that they help marginalized groups obtain the same access to good-paying jobs and opportunities for advancement.
Government Policy Changes
Welfare programs are strengthened to help those in poverty to meet basic needs while they work toward financial stability. By encouraging public-private partnerships, economic opportunities are enhanced by fostering innovation and creating jobs. Moreover, income inequality stemming from tax policies can be reduced through tax reforms that help distribute wealth more equally, allowing low-income individuals the opportunity to 'sweat equity' in rebuilding their economic future.
Advice to a Government Official
Government officials must adopt policies that create job stability and economic security in order to tackle poverty effectively. We are talking about raising wages in line with the cost of living and supporting industries that churn out long-term employment. The strong job market is about linking people, linking people to better chances of reaching financial independence. Breaking the poverty cycle requires education and vocational training. The government should afford to shift more funds to public schools, subsidize scholarships, and offer support for vocational education (Aguirre, 2021). Also, it ensures that people who require help have it while not spending money on healthcare and social service costs. Realizing fair tax policies that have reduced income inequality is a necessary condition for economic stability. Government officials should also suggest that taxes collected ought to be used in social welfare schemes, infrastructure development, and employment promotion. By placing it above all else, governments will enable sustainable economic growth that is inclusive for all people.
Conclusion
Economic instability, lack of education, systemic inequalities, and government policy failures drive poverty. These comprehensive solutions should be addressed, like job creation, fair wages, better education, free health care, and welfare programs. We have to implement large-scale policies to address the root problems of poverty, and people have to do things to contribute. Business and community partnerships should also be part of efforts to promote economic stability and equal opportunities. By promoting fair economic policies, investing in public services, and ensuring equal opportunities, policymakers will be able to reduce poverty effectively. It also has to advocate for change while helping those who need help. If we all work to make our world more just and equal, we can only reduce poverty.
References
Aguirre, J. (2021). Long-term effects of grants and loans for vocational education. Journal of Public Economics, 204, 104539.
Barford, A., Gilbert, R., Beales, A., Zorila, M., & Nelson, J. (2022). The case for living wages: How paying living wages improves business performance and tackles poverty.
Hope, K. R. (2024). Why anti-corruption projects and programmes fail in some African countries: a case study of an anti-corruption project that drowned in corruption and the lessons learned. International Journal of Ethics and Systems.
Jimenez, M. A., & Roig, M. (2021). A new global deal must promote economic security.
Saujani, R. (2022). Pay Up: The Future of Women and Work (and Why It's Different Than You Think). Simon and Schuster
Tyagi, R., Vishwakarma, S., Rishi, M., & Rajiah, S. (2021). Reducing inequalities through education and skill development courses. In Reduced Inequalities (pp. 746-758). Cham: Springer International Publishing.
Walker, M., McLean, M., & Mukwando, P. (2022). Low-income students, human development and higher education in South Africa: Opportunities, obstacles and outcomes (p. 224). African minds.
