Developing countries vs Developed countries: a look at poverty
A developing country is a country with a less developed industrial base and a low Human Development Index (HDI) relative to other countries. A developed country (or industrialized country, high-income country, more economically developed country (MEDC)) is a sovereign state that has a high quality of life, developed economy and advanced technological infrastructure relative to other less industrialized nations. Many poor people in the developed world work full time and earn more money per week than those in the developing world earn per year. However, relative poverty is poverty nonetheless, and in wealthy countries it can have harsh consequences.
3 billion people in 107 developing countries, which account for 22% of the world’s population, live in multidimensional poverty. 644 million children are experiencing multidimensional poverty.
Usually in wealthy countries, poverty is not absolute. The poor in these nations do not for the most part experience famine or starvation, and although homelessness does occur, it is a multifaceted phenomenon that can have causes other than poverty. In fact, many poor people in the developed world work full time and earn more money per week than those in the developing world earn per year. However, relative poverty is poverty nonetheless, and in wealthy countries it can have harsh consequences.
Some researchers and aid workers have suggested that the poor in wealthy countries suffer more psychological problems and social isolation than those in low-income countries. In 1999 Mari Marcel-Thekaekara, a renowned international aid worker and founder of ACCORD, a nongovernmental organization that works with tribal people in Tamil Nadu, India, reported in London’s Guardian (“Poor Relations,” February 27, 1999) that in some respects the kind of poverty she witnessed in the Easterhouse slum in Glasgow, Scotland, was worse than anything she had seen working in India for ten years.
“[W]e were hit by the reality of the poverty surrounding us in Glasgow. Most of the men in Easterhouse hadn’t had a job in twenty years. They were dispirited, depressed, often alcoholic. Their self-esteem had gone. Emotionally and mentally they were far worse off than the poor where we worked in India, even though the physical trappings of poverty were less stark.”
Rich nations should help to improve the economy of poor countries. This can be done by promoting free trade and will reduce barriers to international trade such as tariff, import quotas, and export fees and will help to lift the developing countries out of poverty.
References
Peer, A. (2020, October 16). Global poverty: Facts, FAQs, and how to help | World Vision. World Vision. https://www.worldvision.org/sponsorship-news-stories/global-poverty-facts#:~:text=1.3%20billion%20people%20in%20107,children%20are%20experiencing%20multidimensional%20poverty.
Wikipedia Contributors. (2021, June 17). Developed country. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Developed_country
Wikipedia Contributors. (2021, June 16). Developing country. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Developing_country
Task 2: Developed Countries Helping Developing Countries. (2021). IELTS Buddy. https://www.ieltsbuddy.com/task-2-developed-countries-helping-developing-countries.html
Peer, A. (2020, October 16). Global poverty: Facts, FAQs, and how to help | World Vision. World Vision. https://www.worldvision.org/sponsorship-news-stories/global-poverty-facts#:~:text=1.3%20billion%20people%20in%20107,children%20are%20experiencing%20multidimensional%20poverty.
The Poor in Developed Countries | Encyclopedia.com. (2020). Encyclopedia.com. https://www.encyclopedia.com/international/news-and-education-magazines/poor-developed-countries
