POVERTY A socio-economic problem that usually occurs in developing countries The deprivation of basic economic necessities such as food,

d, shelter, clothing, money, etc. Deficiency of wealth and income May cause social exclusion and malnutrition CAUSES Illiteracy Scarcity of private ownership of the means of production High population Terrorism Physical and natural factors like calamities and catastrophes Rampant corruption and irregularities in the government Lack of economic opportunities in the country Addiction to vices CHARACTERISTICS Absolute Poverty General concept of poverty Fixed set of standards which is consistent over time Relative Poverty Socially defined poverty Deprivation of basic needs of an individual as compared to another group

EFFECTS Brings devastating effects in the psychological aspect of an individual Instability in the socio-political structure if the society People may blame the government Poverty can also harm the countrys economy Emergence of radical anti-poverty movements Sanitation problems and outbreak of illnesses High crime and suicide rate Political violence Poor housing projects Lack of employment opportunities Low literacy rate Widens economic gap between the rich and poor Lower life expectancy Drug abuse URBAN SOCIAL PROBLEMS Migration of people from urban to rural communities - most people believe that opportunities are abundant in the rural areas - concept of greener pastures - negative effects include: pollution; emergence of squatters; prostitution and STDs; psychological and mental illnesses; alcohol and drug abuse; crime and juvenile delinquency Squatters (with physical, social and legal characteristics)

CULTURE OF POVERTY Social theory coined by Oscar Lewis First used in 1959 in his book Five Families: Mexican Case Studies in the Culture of Poverty Considered impoverished individuals as one of the important parts of the society Characteristics of culture of poverty: - absence of financial resources - lack of savings - early experience with sex - no confidence/mistrust in the government - matriarchal family and broken family - lack of privacy