Eradicate poverty in our lifetime?

Can we eradicate poverty in our lifetime?

CURRICULUM: Progress & The Future: Public vs. Private Good

Summary: According to United Nations, 1.2 billion people live a life of extreme poverty. In the United States, 2 million people live in extreme poverty, but the situation is not improving. Certainly, some of the issues are deeply rooted in prejudice, but improvements in education, public health and local economies are making a big difference. It is possible that poverty may become a minor issue in our lifetimes, and a non-issue during our children’s reign on earth.

Basic Understanding:

What is the definition of poverty? How do the numbers work? Do they vary by region or by nation?
United National Millennium Development Goals related to poverty and hunger (they are one)

Halve, between 1990 and 2015, proportion of people whose income is less than $1.25 a day

Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all, including women and young people

Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people who suffer from hunger
Global extreme poverty reduced by over 50% since 1990 - tremendous progress
Difficult facts about U.S. poverty: 22% of all U.S. children, 38% of Black children, 32% of Hispanic children; 2010 census: 15% of all Americans (1 in 7 Americans are poor!)

In 1950, 22.4% of Americans were poor (nearly 1 in 4); low in 1960s: 11% (1 in 9)

Situation has improved for elderly, remains very challenging for single mom households
Closer look at poverty situation in various nations and parts of the world, trends, analysis

Issues:

Challenges in measuring poverty, communicating about poverty, focusing attention on the issue
Establishing the “poverty line” - and what those numbers mean
The poverty line, and statistics that capture trends do a poor job in telling the real story

Mostly, because these statistics provide a snapshot in time of the average situation

The statistics do not tell us much about how the situation has improved, or been made worse, as a result of attempts at eradication

Open Questions:

Is poverty simply part of the global economic equation? In order to maintain an economy that thrives, must some portion of the people be poor?
How much does it cost to support those most in need? Does the investment simply prolong the trend, or does it make things better in the short or long run?
What kinds of programs and initiatives seem to produce the greatest success? Which ones are less productive? Why (and/or what do we know and why don’t we know a lot more)?
Is there any real impetus to change the current situation? Apart from the obvious questions about social responsibility, does the world become a better place if fewer people (or, few people) are poor?

Conversation Pit: Possible Topics

Life of a poor family - different stories from different countries, regions, neighborhoods

Income inequality - should we take from the rich (or middle class) and give to the poor?

Why do we know so little about poverty? Is it kept a secret? Or is the story buried in some way?

Temporary vs. permanent poverty - personal and family economic cycles, breaking the cycle

Is the United Nations the appropriate agency to improve the situation? Are there others?

How can I, as one person in the middle class, help—and really make a difference?

Notebook Contents

Poverty statistics by nation and region, with trend charts and cultural explanations

Story of a poor family - illustrated with photographs, children’s drawings, etc.

Examples of Web Assets

http://npc.umich.edu/poverty/ << go to POVERTY FACTS IN LEFT NAV

Scholars, Books, Experts, Other Sources

Jeffrey D. Sachs - The End of Poverty

Critics and criticism of Sachs’ plans and ideas
ADD MORE

Creative / Educational Opportunities

Roots of word “eradicate” - means “to pull up by the roots;” shares origin with “radish” and “radical”

Characters help one another to understand insufficient money is connected to many other economic, social, cultural, housing issues.