Poverta assoluta

What Is Poverta Assoluta?

Povertà assoluta refers to a condition where individuals or households lack the basic resources necessary to sustain life and maintain a minimum acceptable standard of living. This fundamental concept within economics and social policy defines poverty based on a fixed threshold of essential needs, independent of the overall wealth or income distribution within a society. It means being unable to afford necessities such as safe drinking water, sufficient food, adequate housing, basic healthcare, and essential clothing. The definition of povertà assoluta emphasizes a severe deprivation of fundamental human needs, making it a critical indicator in assessing global human development.

History and Origin

The concept of absolute poverty, and efforts to measure it universally, gained significant traction in the latter half of the 20th century as global development organizations sought to quantify and address extreme deprivation. The World Bank, a key institution in this field, introduced its first international poverty line in 1990, setting a common standard for measuring extreme poverty across countries. Initially, this "dollar-a-day" standard, set at $1.00 per person per day (in 1985 international prices adjusted for purchasing power parity), was based on the typical national poverty lines of the world's poorest countries., ¹⁷T¹⁶his initiative marked a pivotal moment, providing a consistent metric to track global progress in poverty reduction. The international poverty line has been periodically updated to reflect changes in global prices and the cost of living, with the figure currently set at $2.15 per person per day (in 2017 international prices).,

¹⁵## Key Takeaways

• Povertà assoluta signifies a lack of resources to meet fundamental human needs for survival and well-being.
• It is defined by a fixed threshold of essential goods and services, independent of a country's average income distribution or overall wealth.
• International organizations like the World Bank establish and monitor global absolute poverty lines to track progress in poverty eradication.
• Measuring povertà assoluta is crucial for identifying populations in dire need and for targeting effective humanitarian aid and social welfare programs.
• Despite global progress, povertà assoluta remains a significant challenge, particularly in developing economies and regions affected by conflict.

Interpreting the Povertà Assoluta

Interpreting povertà assoluta involves understanding that it represents a condition below a universally recognized minimum threshold of subsistence. Unlike measures that compare income levels within a society, this concept focuses on whether an individual or household can afford a basic basket of goods and services considered essential for survival and minimal functioning. This threshold, often expressed as a daily monetary value, like the World Bank's international poverty line, serves as an objective benchmark. When a population's spending or income falls below this threshold, it indicates an inability to meet basic needs, regardless of their country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) or national average purchasing power. This stark interpretation highlights extreme deprivation and the urgent need for intervention.

Hypothetical Example

Consider a hypothetical family in a low-income country, consisting of two adults and three children. The international poverty line, for illustrative purposes, is set at $2.15 per person per day. This means that for this family of five, the minimum required income to avoid povertà assoluta would be $10.75 per day (5 persons * $2.15/person).

If this family collectively earns $8 per day, they fall below the absolute poverty threshold. This deficit signifies that they lack the financial means to acquire sufficient food, safe water, shelter, and other basic necessities to maintain their health and well-being. Their daily income is insufficient to cover the essential cost of living determined by the global poverty line, illustrating their state of povertà assoluta.

Practical Applications

The concept of povertà assoluta is fundamental in global development, policy-making, and humanitarian efforts. International organizations use it to:

• Target Aid and Resources: Governments and non-governmental organizations utilize absolute poverty data to identify the most vulnerable populations requiring urgent assistance. This informs the allocation of international aid, food assistance, and direct cash transfers.,
• Me¹⁴a¹³sure Development Progress: Global bodies, such as the World Bank and the United Nations, track changes in the number of people living in povertà assoluta as a primary economic indicator of development success. Reducing extreme poverty is a core objective of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Desi¹²gn Poverty Reduction Strategies: Understanding the scale and location of absolute poverty helps in formulating targeted interventions, such as improving access to education, healthcare, and social safety nets. The World Bank, for instance, has various initiatives focusing on comprehensive poverty reduction. UNICEF rep¹¹orts, for example, highlight the alarming levels of child poverty globally, emphasizing that millions of children live in severe food poverty due to inequity, conflict, and climate crises, and require sustained interventions.

Limita¹⁰tions and Criticisms

While povertà assoluta provides a crucial baseline for identifying extreme deprivation, it faces several limitations and criticisms:

• Static Nature: The fixed nature of the absolute poverty line may not fully capture the evolving definition of "basic needs" as societies develop. What is considered essential for survival might change over time, but the absolute line typically adjusts only for inflation rather than societal progress.,
• Mult⁹i⁸dimensional Aspects: Critics argue that povertà assoluta primarily focuses on income or consumption, overlooking other critical dimensions of deprivation, such as lack of access to clean water, sanitation, education, or healthcare, which are integral to human well-being., A person mi⁷ght be above the income threshold but still lack fundamental services.
• Difficulty in Measurement: Accurately measuring the purchasing power of money across vastly different economies, especially in remote or informal sectors, presents significant challenges. The calculation of Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) rates, used to compare poverty lines internationally, can be complex and subject to revision.
• Ignore⁶s Inequality: By focusing solely on a minimum threshold, povertà assoluta does not inherently address issues of income inequality or the widening wealth gap within and between countries, which can lead to social instability even if extreme poverty declines. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) acknowledges the complexity of inequality and its potential to erode social cohesion.

Povertà A⁵ssoluta vs. Poverta Relativa

Povertà assoluta and Povertà relativa are distinct but related concepts used to measure different aspects of economic deprivation.

While povertà assoluta identifies the most severe forms of deprivation, Povertà relativa highlights disparities and the risk of social exclusion within a particular societal context. An individual might not be in povertà assoluta but could still experience Povertà relativa if their income is significantly lower than the majority in their country, impacting their participation in social and economic life.,

FAQs

What ar⁴e³ the main characteristics of povertà assoluta?

The primary characteristic of povertà assoluta is the lack of sufficient income or resources to afford fundamental necessities for survival, such as food, clean water, shelter, and basic healthcare. It is often measured against an internationally defined monetary threshold.

How is povertà assoluta measured globally?

Globally, povertà assoluta is typically measured using an international poverty line set by organizations like the World Bank. This line, currently $2.15 per day, is a fixed monetary threshold, adjusted for differences in purchasing power across countries, below which individuals are considered to be living in extreme poverty.

Why is it important to distinguish povertà assoluta from povertà relativa?

Distinguishing between povertà assoluta and Povertà relativa is crucial because they address different aspects of deprivation. Absolute poverty identifies life-threatening conditions and a lack of basic human needs, while relative poverty highlights economic inequality and the inability to participate fully in society compared to the average standard of living. Both are important for comprehensive social welfare analysis and policy formulation.,¹