Cause & Effect ( poverty ) - Essay Example

Cause & Effect of poverty Poverty is available all over the world both in first world and third world countries such as United States of America and Somalia respectively. Poverty is an exceptionally complicated social problem and some theorists believe that the poor cause their own poverty while others feel that poverty has several causes of which some are basic such as overpopulation, inadequate jobs and inability to get enough food. Poverty has many definitions and a poor person may be said to be someone who cannot satisfy his or her necessary needs such as food and shelter as well as inability to pay bills without strain due to insufficient income.

The main reason for this writing is to discuss some of the causes and effects of poverty which is a major pandemic in the globally particularly in Africa and Asia.Population has really gone high in the world thus resulting into overpopulation which eventually exerts a lot of pressure on the available limited resources such as land that could have been used in food production and even few employment resources that cannot satisfy the excess population. Overpopulation has contributed to poor planning in many nations particularly in the Africa and Asia since the governments of these countries do not have enough resources such as proper education and adequate food to cater for the excess population.

Overpopulation and human activities has also led to environmental degradation which has really deteriorated the natural resources such as soil and water hence hindering food production and cash crop farming which may be essential in acquiring wealth. According to White & Luttik (1994), “Poverty is a major cause and effect of global environmental problems” (p. 110).Lack of adequate education and employment is one of the major causes of poverty since most countries cannot sufficiently afford to provide good schools and colleges as well as enough employment to their population.

Inadequate education may prevent an individual from acquiring nice job that may eventually lead to a better life. According to Combat Poverty Agency (2013), “Being unemployed or in a low-paid job makes people more likely to be poor” (Web).Some other causes of poverty are availability of many younger and old people, long term illness or disability, single parenting and living in a disadvantaged community.Some of the effects of poverty are social tensions that divide a nation because of poor distribution of wealth such that a few people have all the money.

Poor people cannot afford good housing thus making them to live in substandard accommodation or even remaining homeless. Poverty may also lead to serious mental and physical health thus making them to die younger due to inadequate diet and lower quality of life.Poverty also encourages involvement in criminal activities due to idleness and drug and alcohol abuse as well as crippling accidents due to unsafe working conditions. Poverty may also make people either not acquire enough education or are not encouraged to complete school thus ending up in low paying jobs or no jobs at all.

According to Poverties.org (2013), “Unemployment and very low incomes create an environment where kids cant simply go to school” (web). Poverty makes people with insecure or low income to borrow money thus indulging in debts or dependence on social welfare.ReferencesCombat Poverty Agency. (2013).Poverties.org. (2013). White, H., Luttik, J. (1994). The Country-Wide Effects of Aid: Report for the World Bank. Washington, D.C: World Bank, Policy Research Dept., Macroeconomics and Growth Division.