Global Poverty Fight Stalls: Is Progress Against Extreme Poverty Ending?
Global progress in reducing extreme poverty has significantly slowed down, with the COVID-19 pandemic and other crises reversing years of gains.
Photo by Wietse Jongsma
त्वरित संशोधन
Global extreme poverty reduction has slowed significantly since 2015.
The COVID-19 pandemic pushed 70 million more people into extreme poverty in 2020.
Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 60% of the world's extreme poor.
The World Bank defines extreme poverty as living on less than $2.15 a day (2017 PPP).
The number of people living in extreme poverty was 700 million in 2022.
The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1 aims to eradicate extreme poverty by 2030.
महत्वपूर्ण तिथियां
महत्वपूर्ण संख्याएं
दृश्य सामग्री
Global Extreme Poverty Landscape: Regional Disparities
This map highlights regions with significant extreme poverty challenges and those that have made substantial progress. Sub-Saharan Africa remains the epicenter of extreme poverty, while East Asia and the Pacific, particularly China, have seen massive reductions, showcasing regional divergence in the global poverty fight.
Loading interactive map...
पृष्ठभूमि संदर्भ
वर्तमान प्रासंगिकता
मुख्य बातें
- •Students should understand the definition of extreme poverty, the historical trends in its reduction, the current challenges (COVID-19, conflicts, climate change), and the implications for achieving global development goals, especially SDG 1.
परीक्षा के दृष्टिकोण
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and India's commitment/progress towards SDG 1.
Different measures of poverty: absolute vs. relative poverty, poverty line (World Bank's definition), Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI).
Impact of global events (pandemics, conflicts, climate change) on poverty and economic development.
Economic concepts: inflation, food security, supply chain disruptions, social safety nets, inclusive growth, global economic slowdowns.
Role of international organizations (World Bank, UN, IMF) and global cooperation in poverty alleviation.
Government schemes and policies in India aimed at poverty reduction and social protection.
विस्तृत सारांश देखें
सारांश
For decades, the world made incredible strides in reducing extreme poverty, lifting billions out of destitution. However, this progress has now hit a major roadblock, and some even fear it's coming to an end. The COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with rising inflation, conflicts, and climate change, has pushed millions back into extreme poverty.
The article highlights that while East Asia and the Pacific, particularly China, saw massive reductions, other regions like Sub-Saharan Africa are struggling, with poverty rates remaining stubbornly high or even increasing. This slowdown means achieving the Sustainable Development Goal of eradicating extreme poverty by 2030 looks increasingly challenging, requiring urgent and concerted global efforts.
पृष्ठभूमि
For several decades, the world witnessed unprecedented progress in reducing extreme poverty, lifting billions out of destitution. This was largely driven by rapid economic growth in emerging economies, particularly in East Asia (e.g., China) and South Asia.
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), adopted in 2000, played a significant role in galvanizing global efforts, with the target of halving extreme poverty being met ahead of schedule. This success fostered optimism about the eventual eradication of extreme poverty.
नवीनतम घटनाक्रम
The article highlights a critical juncture where this remarkable progress has not only stalled but is also facing significant reversals. The primary drivers identified include the devastating socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, soaring global inflation (especially food and energy prices), escalating geopolitical conflicts (e.g., Ukraine war), and the intensifying effects of climate change.
These factors have pushed millions back into extreme poverty, particularly impacting vulnerable populations and exacerbating existing inequalities. While regions like East Asia and the Pacific previously saw massive reductions, Sub-Saharan Africa continues to struggle with stubbornly high or increasing poverty rates, making the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1 of eradicating extreme poverty by 2030 increasingly challenging.
बहुविकल्पीय प्रश्न (MCQ)
1. Consider the following statements regarding global extreme poverty and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): 1. Sustainable Development Goal 1 (SDG 1) aims to eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere by 2030. 2. The World Bank defines extreme poverty as living on less than $2.15 a day, based on 2017 Purchasing Power Parity (PPP). 3. Over the last decade, Sub-Saharan Africa has consistently shown the most significant decline in extreme poverty rates globally, contributing substantially to the overall progress. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.1 only
- B.1 and 2 only
- C.2 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
उत्तर देखें
सही उत्तर: B
Statement 1 is correct. SDG 1 explicitly targets the eradication of extreme poverty by 2030. Statement 2 is correct. The World Bank updated its international poverty line to $2.15 a day (2017 PPP) in September 2022. Statement 3 is incorrect. The article and various global reports indicate that Sub-Saharan Africa is struggling with persistently high or increasing poverty rates, making it a region of significant concern for achieving SDG 1.
2. In the context of the recent stall in global extreme poverty reduction, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. The COVID-19 pandemic and rising global inflation are identified as primary drivers pushing millions back into extreme poverty. 2. East Asia and the Pacific region, particularly China, has seen a significant reversal in its poverty reduction gains due to recent economic slowdowns, contributing to the global stall. 3. Climate change impacts disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, exacerbating poverty in regions heavily dependent on agriculture and natural resources. Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- A.1 only
- B.1 and 2 only
- C.1 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
उत्तर देखें
सही उत्तर: C
Statement 1 is correct. The article explicitly mentions COVID-19 and rising inflation as key factors. Statement 2 is incorrect. The article states that East Asia and the Pacific, particularly China, saw 'massive reductions' in poverty, implying past success. While global slowdowns affect all, the article does not attribute the *stall* to a *reversal* in China's *past gains* in the same way it highlights struggles elsewhere. China's past success was a major contributor to global poverty reduction, and the current stall is due to other factors impacting vulnerable populations globally. Statement 3 is correct. Climate change is a major factor mentioned in the article, and its impacts on agriculture and natural resources directly affect the poor.
3. Which of the following statements about the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) is NOT correct?
- A.It was developed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI).
- B.MPI measures poverty based on three dimensions: health, education, and living standards.
- C.A person is identified as multidimensionally poor if they are deprived in at least one-third of the weighted indicators.
- D.Unlike the World Bank's extreme poverty line, MPI primarily focuses on income-based deprivation across multiple indicators.
उत्तर देखें
सही उत्तर: D
Statements A, B, and C are correct. The MPI is indeed a product of UNDP and OPHI, measures poverty across health, education, and living standards, and uses a deprivation threshold of one-third of weighted indicators. Statement D is NOT correct. The MPI is designed to capture non-income dimensions of poverty, complementing traditional income-based measures like the World Bank's extreme poverty line. It explicitly moves beyond just income to include deprivations in access to basic services and capabilities.