Absolute poverty in sociology is a complex concept that encompasses multiple dimensions, including material deprivation, lack of access to basic services, and social exclusion. It is defined as a condition in which individuals lack the resources necessary to meet their basic needs for food, water, shelter, clothing, and healthcare. Absolute poverty is often measured using absolute poverty lines, which are fixed thresholds based on the cost of a set of essential goods and services. These definitions and measures are essential for identifying and addressing the causes and consequences of absolute poverty, guiding policy interventions, and monitoring progress towards its elimination.
Definition of Absolute Poverty in Sociology
Absolute poverty, also known as extreme poverty, is a state of deprivation in which an individual or a group lacks access to basic necessities such as food, clothing, shelter, water, sanitation, health care, and education. Absolute poverty is often defined using a monetary threshold, such as the World Bank’s poverty line of $1.90 per person per day. However, some experts argue that monetary thresholds alone are insufficient for defining poverty, and that a broader definition based on capabilities or well-being is more appropriate.
Monetary Thresholds
Monetary thresholds have been widely used to measure absolute poverty globally. The most widely used threshold is the World Bank’s $1.90 per person per day, which has been used to identify countries with the highest levels of poverty. Other organizations, such as the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), use a broader definition of poverty that includes non-monetary elements such as access to health care, education, and safe water.
Capabilities Approach
The capabilities approach, developed by economist Amartya Sen, defines poverty as a lack of capabilities to achieve a certain level of well-being. Capabilities are the means or opportunities that people have to live a good life, such as the ability to be healthy, to be educated, and to have access to housing and other basic necessities.
Well-being Approach
The well-being approach defines poverty as a lack of well-being. Well-being is a subjective concept, and it can vary from person to person and from culture to culture. However, some common measures of well-being include life expectancy, health status, education level, and income.
Multidimensional Poverty Index
The Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), developed by Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), is a measure of poverty that combines monetary, capabilities, and well-being. The MPI measures poverty in terms of 10 dimensions: health, education, living standards, and services.
Choosing the Best Structure
The best structure for a definition of absolute poverty will vary depending on the purpose of the definition and the intended audience. If the definition is intended for use in a global context, then a monetary threshold, such as the World Bank’s $1.90 per person per day, may be the most appropriate. If the definition is for use in a more specific context, such as a local or national context, then a broader definition based on capabilities or well-being may be more appropriate.
Question 1:
What is the definition of absolute poverty in sociology?
Answer:
Absolute poverty is a state of deprivation where individuals or households lack the basic resources necessary to meet their essential needs. These needs include adequate nutrition, shelter, clothing, healthcare, and education.
Question 2:
How does absolute poverty differ from relative poverty?
Answer:
Absolute poverty refers to a specific threshold of material deprivation that is defined independently of the income distribution of a society. In contrast, relative poverty is determined by comparing an individual’s or household’s income or consumption to the average or median income of the community they live in.
Question 3:
What are the main causes of absolute poverty?
Answer:
The causes of absolute poverty are complex and multifaceted, including factors such as economic inequality, lack of access to education and healthcare, political instability, and environmental degradation.
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