Category: Poverty

Introduction

This investigation falls under the umbrella of economic psychology that examines the psychological underpinnings of various economic phenomena as well as the mechanisms underlying peoples perception, decision-making, and behavior in economic contexts. Karl-Erik Wärneryd established the first economic psychology course in a European institution in 1957 at Stockholm University with assistance from Folke lander, who later relocated to Denmark to teach the course at Aarhus University (Robinson & Dow, 2021). Later, in 1972, Gery van Veldhoven and Fred van Raaij created courses in economic psychology at Tilburg in the Netherlands, and the discipline started to gradually spread throughout the continent (Robinson & Dow, 2021). This paper seeks to investigate the socio-economic phenomena of poverty, by fully drawing on the insights provided by economic psychology in an effort to understand the financial decisions and behaviors of people living in poverty.

Statement of the Problem

According to the Census Bureau, based on the official poverty criterion, 37.2 million Americans, or 11.4% of the countrys population, were living in poverty in 2020 (Kilduff, 2022, par. 3). Research mostly focuses on individual attributes of poverty; however, little has been done to examine how countless hurdles and inefficiencies are present in the financial environment that low-income people and families live in. By delving deeper into the decisions made by people living check to check, this investigation endeavors to provide a model for economic reform that will greatly reduce poverty (Mullings et al., 2022).

Literature Review

After conducting a comprehensive critical review of the scarcity theory on a multidimensional foundation, de Bruijn and Antonides (2021) discovered that while financial scarcity had the ability to increase resource efficiency, it also fundamentally increased borrowing. Adamkovi
and Marton
ik (2017) strive to advance a cognitive structure explaining the manner in which economic-decision making is negatively impacted by poverty using four factors. These include executive processes, load affecting cognitive capacity and control, economic decision-making, and perceptive and thoughtful decision-making. However, there are also differing study outcomes: Carvalho et al. (2017) strongly object to previous research. They state that financial resources do not necessarily cause the poor to make reckless economic decisions: instead, choices concerning monetary rewards or gratification are dependent on the element of liquidity.

Method Section

An explanatory research design will be employed for this research investigation. The reasoning behind this is its ability to examine links between defined key terms and variables relevant to economic behavior, as well as its causes and implications (Robinson & Dow, 2021). This paper will undertake in-depth interviews with 60 men and women from a low-income neighborhood and a high-income one in order to examine their economic behavior in relation to spending and savings habits after payday.

Conclusion

Economic psychology discerns the economic behaviors of poor people and goes further to explain how these behaviors confine individuals in a cycle of poverty. A scarcity mindset tends to grip poverty-stricken people, thus altering their economic decision-making. This is because they often lack the cognitive capacity to undertake aspects of financial stability such as time-discounting and risk aversions, and would rather buy lottery tickets or unnecessary things than create an emergency fund.

References

Adamkovi
, M., & Marton
ik, M. (2017). A review of consequences of poverty on economic decision-making: A hypothesized model of a cognitive mechanism. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 1-13. Web.

Carvalho, L. S., Meier, S., & Wang, S. W. (2017). Poverty and economic decision-making: Evidence from changes in financial resources at Payday. American Economic Review, 106(2), 260284. Web.

Mullings, J., Arbor, S., Cumbay, M., McPherson, A., & Ho, M. S. (2022). Health-related quality of life: Measurement tools, predictors and modifiers. BoD  Books on Demand.

de Bruijn, E.-J., & Antonides, G. (2021). Poverty and economic decision making: A review of scarcity theory. Theory and Decision, 92(1), 537. Web.

Kilduff, L. (2022). How poverty in the United States is measured and why it matters. PRB. Web.

Robinson, J., & Dow, S. (2021). Economic philosophy. Taylor & Francis.

Introduction

Poverty is a global economic and social problem that has persisted throughout the centuries. Attempts to establish the causes of poverty and the solutions to the issue have been made since the emergence of early civilizations. Despite the significant drop in the numbers of the extremely poor in the past few decades, particularly in developing countries, poverty remains one of the most serious challenges to governments worldwide. Economic growth can help alleviate many issues that cause poverty. Creating new jobs and improving universal access to education and medical care can considerably enhance the quality of life for low-income households. However, the research proves that economic development benefits the deprived groups only when governments implement targeted socio-economic policies and keep track of their efficiency.

The Causes of Poverty

There are multiple theories that try to establish the causes of poverty. Some of those explain it using solely economic models; others consider social factors as well. The first kind focuses on how low per capita income creates intergenerational poverty caused by inadequate access to education and health care (Sabah et al., 2017). However, these theories are somewhat limited, as, for example, in countries lacking quality education and health care, higher income does not necessarily guarantee a better life. Other theories point out the significance of social (ethnic, gender, religious) disparities as a limiting factor, especially in developing countries (Sabah et al., 2017). Several studies have established the relation between poverty and the size of the household. Islam et al. (2016) note that households with more than five members, a young head of the family, and female-headed households are the most vulnerable. Overall, most scholars agree that poverty is defined by limited access to vital resources. It is a complex phenomenon caused by a multitude of economic, political, and social factors, which requires a holistic approach in its analysis.

Inclusive Economic Growth as an Answer to Poverty

Numerous scholars have questioned the impact of economic growth on poverty levels over the last few decades. However, multiple studies prove that the economic boom at the end of the 20th century helped resolve long-standing poverty issues in developing countries. Khan et al. (2019) state that economic growth at macro-level consequent better health services and improved quality of education, whereas at micro-level it consequent increased individuals income and provided employment opportunities, thereby reducing poverty (p. 769). Fosu (2017) attributes the significant change in poverty levels in Latin American and Asian countries in the last quarter of the 20th century to high GDP growth. However, GDP growth is not necessarily indicative of lower poverty rates. Fosu (2017) notes that income is generally a better reflector of poverty than GDP is (p. 313). According to `kare and Dru~eta (2016), economic growth in China and India resulted in a significant increase in per capita income, despite soaring income inequalities. While the perception of the relation between economic development and lower poverty levels has evolved significantly throughout the last decades, most researchers agree that growth is essential to fighting poverty.

Nevertheless, income inequality is a major factor that can reduce the positive impact of a healthy economy. Fosu (2017) states that income disparities in Botswana have persisted despite rapid GDP growth, while lesser progress in the Ghanaian economy had a more significant impact on poverty levels. Corruption is another factor that can hinder the positive effect of growth. Niyimbanira (2017) notes that in many African countries, economic development primarily benefited the elites and did not change much for low-income households. `kare and Dru~eta (2016) conclude that the original trickle-down theory of the post-war period, which implies that a healthy economy guarantees lower poverty levels, needs serious reconsideration. The latest research shows that while economic growth is essential in order to alleviate poverty, its impact can vary significantly depending on other social and political factors. Therefore, it should be used to implement social policies and make investments in jobs, education, and health sectors that target the most deprived and vulnerable groups.

Employment Opportunities and Entrepreneurship

Economic development contributes to the creation of new jobs, which can significantly reduce poverty levels. Nguyen (2016) states that there is a positive relationship between high unemployment and widespread poverty (p. 115). Therefore, the reduction of unemployment rates should be one of the governments main priorities in developing countries. Nguyen (2016) observers that the Caribbean states with a high focus on human capital have been far more successful in handling the poverty issue than other countries in the region. Niyimbanira (2017) underpins the significance of creating job opportunities that can provide a decent stable income for unemployed youth. Along with job creation, increasing the minimum wage is crucial to reduce poverty in developing countries (Niyimbanira, 2017). The poor are often inclined to accept any job offers, even those that do not provide sufficient income (Ramadhani & Putra, 2019). However, it is important to notice that in countries where a significant fraction of the labor force is employed unofficially, raising the minimum wage will not change much (Ramadhani & Putra, 2019). Overall, sustainable job creation is arguably the most important tool in eliminating poverty.

In developed countries, policymakers often emphasize the crucial role of entrepreneurship in fighting poverty. Lee and Rodriguez-Pose (2020) note that rapid growth forces firms to be more inclusive when hiring (para. 9). However, as previously noted, lower unemployment does not guarantee a reduction in poverty levels, and the impact of entrepreneurship on the poor has to be studied in more detail. Lee and Rodriguez-Pose (2020) state that only entrepreneurship in tradable sectors contributes to reducing poverty. Thus, governments should prioritize investment in manufacturing, financial services, and research and development as entrepreneurship in these sectors might be of the greatest benefit to low-income families.

Education

Education is another key factor that impacts average income growth. Ramadhani and Putra (2019) state that insufficient education limits ones job opportunities and reduces potential income. Economic development can be used to improve access to high-quality education for the poor and increase their employment opportunities. Niyimbanira (2017) argues that low skills and the absence of decent education are the driving forces of unemployment and poverty in developing countries. For example, in South Sudan, over 80 percent of the earners in low-income households have no formal education (Shimeles & Verdier-Chouchane, 2016). However, despite the importance of universal primary education, poor families in African countries are often reluctant to send their children to school. According to Shimeles and Verdier-Chouchane (2016), low returns to primary education reduce incentives for households to send children to school, thereby limiting the poverty mitigating scope of primary education (p. 168). Targeted income subsidies for primary education could solve this problem (Shimeles & Verdier-Chouchane, 2016). However, to implement these initiatives, stable economic growth is required.

Higher education plays an equally important role in alleviating poverty. In the 2000s, Surin and Si-Saket provinces in northeastern Thailand have shown significant GDP per capita growth; however, only Surin managed to significantly reduce poverty levels (Moore & Donaldson, 2016). The success of the policies implemented in Surin was largely a result of well-educated local youth engagement in NGOs that offered support to local farmers and prevented the implementation of harmful initiatives (Moore & Donaldson, 2016). This case shows how economic growth can contribute to reducing poverty through better education, and how quality education, in turn, can lead to economic growth.

Health

Ensuring universal access to medical care is a measure that can significantly improve the quality of life for the most marginalized groups. The inefficiency of the healthcare industry remains one of the most pressing issues in African countries. Health issues decrease individuals chances of getting well- paid jobs and contribute to poverty. Bawah et al. (2019) cite the Community Health and Family Planning Project (CHPS) as an example of a successful policy that addresses poverty issues in Ghana. The study confirms that qualified professionals in rural communities helped lower child mortality rates and decrease health issues among the populace (Bawah et al., 2019). Providing access to quality medical care, in this case, helped reduce the gap between the rich and the poor through decreasing the economic pressure on low-income households.

While poverty is a phenomenon usually associated with developing countries, it remains a pressing issue even in the US. In the developed countries, high costs of medical care can contribute towards higher poverty levels, especially among the minorities (Remler et al., 2017). Implementation of social policies in healthcare in the US is an example of the inclusive economic growth approach that can lead to poverty alleviation. Remler et al. (2017) state that Medicaid reduced poverty among its recipients by a remarkable 17.1 percentage points (p. 1834). Overall, the benefits of public health insurance programs have a significant correlation to poverty reduction (Remler et al., 2017). Therefore, in the developed countries, policymakers should seek to implement public programs and premium benefits, as they have proven to be efficient in the fight against poverty.

Conclusion

Poverty alleviation is a complex issue that requires a systematic approach. As the causes of poverty can vary significantly across the globe, empirical research is necessary to find efficient policies in every specific case. While economic growth arguably had a significant impact on poverty levels in less developed regions at the end of the 20th century, the research has proven that an increase in GDP has not benefited the poor in many countries. Numerous examples of inefficient use of political and financial assets in Africa, Latin America, and Asia show that economic development leads to a reduction in poverty only when the governments implement targeted pro-poor policies. Employment and education opportunities, as well as accessible health care for low-income households, should be prioritized. Numerous studies confirm that targeting these areas leads to a significant reduction in poverty levels in the long term, and it helps to close the gap between the poorest and the rich. The most recent research established that inequality has a strong impact on poverty levels. Therefore, it is vital to ensure that low-income households actually benefit from economic growth, and it does not lead to larger income discrepancies instead.

References

Bawah, A. A., Philips, J. F., Asuming, P. O., Jackson, E. F., Walega, P., Kanmiki, E. W., Sheff, M. C., & Oduro, A. (2019). Does the provision of community health services offset the effects of poverty and low maternal educational attainment on childhood mortality? An analysis of the equity effect of the Navrongo experiment in Northern Ghana. SSM  Population Health, 7.

Fosu, A. K. (2017). Growth, inequality, and poverty reduction in developing countries: Recent global evidence. Research in Economics, 71(2), 306-336.

Islam, D., Sayeed, J., & Hossain, N. (2016). On determinants of poverty and inequality in Bangladesh. Journal of Poverty, 21(4), 1-20.

Khan, H. U. R., Nassani, A. A., Aldakil, A. M., Abro, M. M. Q., Islam, T., & Zaman, K. (2019). Pro-poor growth and sustainable development framework: Evidence from two step GMM estimator. Journal of Cleaner Production, 206, 767-784.

Lee, N., & Rodriguez-Pose, A. (2020). Entrepreneurship and the fight against poverty in US cities. Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space, preprint.

Moore, J. D., & Donaldson, J. A. (2016). Human-scale economics: Economic growth and poverty reduction in northeastern Thailand. World Development, 85, 1-15. 

Nguyen, H. Q. (2016). Relationship between economic growth, unemployment and poverty: Analysis at provincial level in Vietnam. International Journal of Economics and Finance, 8(12), 113-119.

Niyimbanira, F. (2017). Analysis of the impact of economic growth on income inequality and poverty in South Africa: The case of Mpumalanga province. International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, 7(4), 254-261.

Remler, D. K., Korenman, S. D., & Hyson, R. T. (2017). Estimating the effects of health insurance and other social programs on poverty under the Affordable Care Act. Health Affairs, 36(10), 1828-1837.

Ramadani, F., & Putra, F. S. (2019). Having a job is Not enough to escape poverty: Case of Indonesian working poors. IPTEK Journal of Proceedings Series, 6, 58-64.

Sabah, A, Rusdi, O., & Mohd Udin, M. (2017). Theories of poverty to the integrative theory. A comparative analysis: Accordance to the situation of Iraq. IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 22(5), 47-50.

Shimeles, A. & Verdier-Chouchane, A. (2016). The key role of education in reducing poverty in South Sudan. African Development Review, 28(2), 162-176.

`kare, M., & Dru~eta R. P. (2016). Poverty and economic growth: A review. Technological and Economic Development of Economy, 22(1), 156-175.

Introduction

Poverty is one of the global social problems of our time, existing even in the countries of the first world despite the generally high standard of living of people. That is why the problem of poverty is so insidious in the US because most people live well-to-do lives and can afford to ignore or deny the need to address this problem. Fortunately, the trend in recent decades has been to shape fact-based policies to cater to the most marginalized segments of the population (Desmond and Western 305). The state is constantly in contact with academia and the media in order to take into account the latest data on the state of social problems. Adopting a scientific, science- and evidence-based approach to the issue of poverty will help solve it since the proposed method will allow the development of a flexible framework for addressing poverty as an issue caused by an amalgamation of factors.

Data on the Poverty Issue

The state needs to collect data on the structure of poverty in the United States, as they provide information on the socioeconomic, racial, and gender profile of the problem. This allows the developing of more targeted and high-quality social support programs. In the United States, historical poverty disparities are extremely pronounced, which only worsened during the coronavirus pandemic (Khattar, Rose, et al.). Therefore, there are strong reasons to assume that poverty is a nationwide issue that needs to be handled on socioeconomic, sociopolitical, sociocultural, financial, and technological levels.

Social, Economic, and Political Influences on Poverty

Similarly to other statewide concerns, poverty is not a one-note issue. Instead, it represents an outcome of a combination of influences exerted on the economic, political, cultural, financial, and technological levels (Desmond and Western 309). Specifically, social contributors, such as the presence of a social support network that ensures the provision of employment opportunities for vulnerable community members, affect the levels of poverty within a specific area to a notable degree (Desmond and Western 309). Similarly, social issues such as prejudice have a tangible effect on the probability of poverty becoming a reality within a community (Desmond and Western 311). Therefore, the impact of social factors is not to be underrated when examining the phenomenon of poverty. Similarly, the political environment determines the likelihood of poverty rates increasing (Khattar et al.). For example, the availability of federal grants, as well as the extent of diversity within a community, are defined by the political trends, thus, shaping the level of poverty (Khattar et al.). Finally, economic concerns, such as employment options, exchange rate, and entrepreneurship opportunities, shape the risk of poverty significantly (Khattar et al.). Therefore, addressing the issue of poverty requires eliminating the combination of political, economic, and sociocultural factors that contribute to poverty increase.

Policy Options Aimed at Poverty

In order to address the problem of poverty, changes to the current socioeconomic situation must be made, which has to start with alterations within the political framework. Specifically, policies aimed at introducing additional opportunities for vulnerable groups, as well as developing a strong support system, are required. Afterward, changes within the current economic framework, allowing for a drop in unemployment rates and an increase in employment opportunities, must be implemented. Specifically, small and medium entrepreneurship must be encouraged within the areas affected by poverty. Finally, enforcement of social justice principles that will reduce discrimination against vulnerable minorities must be made. Additionally, technological opportunities for ensuring better cooperation between citizens and state authorities must be integrated.

Conclusion

By incorporating a combination of sociocultural, economic, political, and technological changes into the target setting, one will be able to alleviate poverty. While eradicating it completely from American society does not seem possible currently, further efforts must be made to minimize it. As a result, opportunities for reducing it to zero will be located, and premises for building society where poverty will no longer be an issue will be created.

Works Cited

Desmond, Matthew, and Bruce Western. Poverty in America: New Directions and Debates. Annual Review of Sociology, vol. 44, 2018, pp. 305-318. Web.

Khattar, Rose, et al. Data on Poverty in the United States, 2022. Center for American Progress, Web.

Introduction

The effects of poverty on an individual or society are multidimensional, affecting access to pillars of social protection such as education, employment, and affordable health care. The links between poverty and inequality are so bold that minority communities are often associated with the deprivation of basic life needs and other social amenities. Poverty in the United States cuts across common issues such as family/individual residential status, educational achievement, and occupation. The United States accommodates diverse communities, some of which are minority groups, having the highest populations with unachieved socioeconomic dimensions for basic survival and prosperity.

Whereas the government can offer stimulus and aid to individuals facing acute deprivation on socioeconomic grounds, there should be long-lasting solutions for individual empowerment. The rationale is that social protection may not be sustainable in the long run, even though the assistance only covers the bare minimum regarding needs achievement. Therefore, the proposed solutions of this paper include an increased emphasis on justice and fairness in socioeconomic policy, reformation of the social safety net in terms of inclusivity, and greater education accessibility.

Reasons for Poverty in the USA

Two primary reasons for poverty spread in the US, or any other society, are individual factors like life choices and structural elements defined by the political landscape prevailing in a community. According to Tackie (2021), several scholars provide a diverse cluster of the rationale for socioeconomic deprivation, which is equally applicable to the current quagmire in the United States. While individual factors that contribute to poverty are the easiest to eliminate, solutions are more difficult to implement if the prevailing social structures promote oppression and frustrations with life-altering decisions for escaping depravity (Tackie, 2021).

In other words, groups with structural disadvantages are more likely to achieve below-average quality education or economic benefits from occupational choices. Moreover, disadvantaged individuals suffer more from unattended medical emergencies, school absences, and exposure to delinquent behaviors (Tackie, 2021). Nevertheless, the two-dimensional approach to understanding poverty in the United States suppresses other outstanding issues that are critically significant in addressing government reforms for uplifting low-income individuals, households, and communities.

Poor educational achievement causes poverty in the United States, given the difficulties in getting employment or well-paying jobs without at least a high school diploma. According to Pedace (2004), less-educated and, thus, less-skilled individuals are more exposed to the poverty risk. In turn, Davis and Williams (2020) emphasized the role played by education in poverty eradication, insisting that economic mobility and overall prosperity are achievable through skills immersion and practical application of the learned knowledge in value creation. Davis and Williams (2020) justified the opinion, estimating that improved funding for public education and quality tuition can enhance employability among the structural minorities unable to afford quality learning opportunities. Therefore, the connection between poverty and education in the United States is that anyone on the lower achievement scale engages in below-average occupations whose economic outcomes cannot sustain even the most basic of the individuals needs.

Health inequality is a reason for poverty in the United States, where those suffering from chronic illnesses and disabilities are unable to give maximum inputs on economic activities for self or family sustenance. Davis and Williams (2020) linked poor health with poverty by detailing that most physical and mental health illnesses affect an individuals capabilities to sustain employment. Conversely, deep poverty promotes psychological distress likely to result in long-term mental health issues (Davis & Williams, 2020).

Therefore, Davis and Williams (2020) justification for health impacts on poverty growth in the US is that materially deprived individuals with psychological distress onsets adopt externalizing behaviors that exacerbate helplessness. Such individuals are less likely to make life-altering choices for improving their socioeconomic statuses. Therefore, a healthy community sustains a healthy economy, unlike in health inequality scenarios where unaffordability can result in fatalities from non-dead diseases, ridding a family of the breadwinner.

Changing opportunities for employment increases poverty in the United States, especially for populations who cannot access minimum-wage jobs or employee protection packages. The United States private and public sectors run different economic models for determining employment and wage compensations for the respective workforces (Davis & Williams, 2020). In contrast, the government can cushion public sector employees from job losses during economic recessions, while the private sector releases the highest number of Americans who depend on social protection stimuli for survival Tackie (2021).

Tackie (2021) noted that industrial dynamics in the United States are another reason for the shifts in employment opportunities, especially for the manufacturing sectors. Fewer manufacturing jobs in 2020 compared to the 1960s led to higher unemployment rates and increases in poverty (Tackie, 2021). The United States is an industrially diverse economy, implying that those who fail to secure employment in manufacturing should find other slots in the healthcare, hospitality, or education sectors (Tackie, 2021). However, the United States poorly implemented economic fabric with ineffective policies for employment protection cannot achieve industrial flexibilities that accommodate the entire populations employment needs.

Family composition, especially the single-parent settings, is a significant reason for poverty in the United States. Corinth et al. (2022) observed that deep poverty rates in single-parent households increased between 1995 and 2016. The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (2022) released comparative data showing that only 7.9% of children in married families lived in poverty, unlike 30.4% from single-parent households. Corinth et al. (2022) observed that, despite the policy-relevant measures for family protection and income inequality eradication, children in single-parent households are more likely to live in poverty than those in married families.

Tackie (2021) explained that family size and composition determine poverty levels, especially if the total income does not match the per-person expenditure thresholds for established poverty indices. The key takeaway from the explanation is that the more breadwinners in a household, the more economic stability for the unit. The observations sufficiently support the recommendations below for eradicating poverty in the United States.

Recommendations for Eradicating Poverty in the USA

Equity for Poverty Reduction

Justice and fairness in socioeconomic policy settings can facilitate poverty reduction in the United States, taking into account the elimination of systemic inequalities. Lakner et al. (2020) observed that inequality is the main reason for poverty, given the socioeconomic barrier for structural minorities and other disadvantaged groups. Therefore, the idea behind equity promotion for poverty reduction is to integrate social diversity in creating solutions for the US population (Lakner et al., 2020).

One of the most remarkable strides in poverty reduction is promoting gender equality through womens empowerment. The US government should implement frameworks for ensuring women gain equal access to quality education, healthcare, and employment opportunities. Mishra and Mishra (2020) detailed that womens advancement promotes economic growth by closing the parity index in socioeconomic dimensions and democratic representations for fair and just structural policies. Equality should encompass equitable labor force participation and empowerment-focused policies where individuals from structural minorities gain access to economic opportunities.

Statistical data on equity for poverty reduction corroborates the suggestion that the US government should empower minorities, especially by ensuring gender equality. Mishra and Mishra (2020) detailed that the female-male ratio of educational enrolment before empowerment was 0.972, whereas the ratio rose to 1.073 after empowerment. The statistical data presented by Mishra and Mishra (2020) is valid because the study was conducted across over 30 countries.

Moreover, the study had no biases because the researchers observed equality ratios for developing and developed economies. The strength of Mishra and Mishras (2020) study is that it provides a generalizable paradigm for poverty reduction because empowerment for equity promotion can be replicated in other social groups. The studys limitation is that it covered the short-term impacts of equality promotion. Therefore, future studies should elaborate on the impacts of empowerment on perceived structural majorities, especially if resulting policy frameworks seem to disadvantage the group.

Improving the Social Safety Net

The US government should improve economic stimuli and microfinance facilitation as quick solutions to poverty reduction. Chang and Romich (2021) observed that social programs to provide needs to structural minorities, especially those in low-income brackets, can reduce poverty. However, enforcing a market-oriented antipoverty policy is the most sustainable safety net for eliminating depravity. Chang and Romich (2021) suggested an inclusive approach to generosity programs, such as the US Food Stamp Program and other nutrition-assistance frameworks. The rationale is that social safety nets should safeguard the equitable distribution of public resources by ensuring Americans benefit from the economic justice frameworks (Chang & Romich, 2021). The government must ensure that inclusive social protection systems are sustainable, quick solutions, and short-term for populations transitioning from one job to another.

Inclusion in generosity statistical representation corroborates the suggestions that the US government must focus on promoting equality through social safety programs. Chang and Romich (2021) compiled a comparative study showing changes in beneficiary demographics since the Great Recession. The data showed that improved inclusion in generosity programs promoted socioeconomic stability for disadvantaged populations. The studys strength is that the authors compiled data over a lengthy period, improving its consistency. Therefore, the data is reliable and void of biases because the authors do not take any sides when presenting statistical social protection facts.

The only limitation is that the study does not incorporate frameworks for promoting social justice against controversial engagement approaches when social workers practice partiality. Therefore, future studies should elaborate on the role of government inclusion frameworks in penalizing corruption and controversial engagements during social protection program rollouts.

Improving Access to Education

The US government should increase funding for public education to ensure that more children from low-income communities gain access to learning institutions. England et al. (2020) observed that education achievement opens up multiple opportunities for Americans to gain competitive slots in the labor markets. Socioeconomic development frameworks emanate from educational achievement, where inclusion is almost unachievable without proper frameworks for ensuring education across all populations (England et al., 2020). England et al. (2020) provided statistical analysis detailing that educational achievement improved US citizen employability from 48% in 1970 to 75% in 2000. Moreover, womens empowerment reduces segregation in the job market, creating a round economy and a fairly represented labor force (England et al., 2020). Therefore, the modern educational system would require several changes on cultural and institutional levels to support the inclusion trend.

The studys strongest side is the fact that it used public long-range data gathered over several decades by national agencies. In other words, the choices of data range and available sources ensure the studys validity and reliability. Apart from that, the study provides a comprehensive statistical report along with a discussion. Therefore, it is safe to assume that the former is free of any bias and polarizing opinions and can be used to draw conclusions separately from the collectives evaluation. Nevertheless, the study has several limitations in the form of target group choices. For instance, England et al. (2020) considered only full-time employees, excluding self-employed, unemployed, and military workers. In this context, future studies might want to focus on additional poverty indicators and different population categories.

Ethical Outcomes of Poverty Eradication

Poverty eradication through equality has a positive ethical outcome, enhancing fairness and promoting justice for minority populations. According to Schweiger (2019), child poverty reduction promotes a positive ethical outcome on the normative concept of vulnerability protection. The rationale is that poverty is a corrosive factor to population protection against social problems like hunger, disease, and crime, implying that its eradication can solve multiple social issues at once (Schweiger (2019).

However, poverty reduction can also promote a negative ethical outcome where perceived structural majorities experience temporal withdrawal from government attention on social protection. The case can promote paradigm shifts from vulnerability protection on minorities to risk exposure on perceived majorities. Gender equality outcomes may not be achievable if women empowerment frameworks for poverty reduction flourish at the expense of men in the US society.

Conclusion

The most sustainable technique for poverty elimination in the United States is ensuring equitable resource distribution, education, healthcare access, and fair labor standards for economic inclusion. The US poverty rates rise due to family composition characteristics, poor health, and low educational achievement. Therefore, the government should eliminate poverty through equitable empowerment, improved access to education opportunities, and fair social protection resource distribution. Poverty elimination programs should safeguard the vulnerability protection for minorities and perceived majority groups without favoring one over the other.

References

Chang, Y. L., & Romich, J. L. (2021). The US safety net since the Great Recession: Trends and reforms, 20072017. Social work, 66(1), 29-37.

Corinth, K., Meyer, B. D., & Wu, D. (2022). The change in poverty from 1995 to 2016 among single parent families. AEA Papers and Proceedings, 112, 345-350. Web.

Davis, R. P., & Williams, W. R. (2020). Bringing psychologists to the fight against deep poverty. American Psychologist, 75(5), 655-667. Web.

England, P., Levine, A., & Mishel, E. (2020). Progress toward gender equality in the United States has slowed or stalled. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 117(13), 6990-6997. Web.

Lakner, C., Mahler, D., Negre, M., & Prydz, B. (2020). How much does reducing inequality matter for global poverty? Web.

Mishra, P. K., Mishra, S. K., & Sarangi, M. K. (2020). Do womens advancement and gender parity promote economic growth? Evidence from 30 Asian countries. Millennial Asia, 11(1), 5-26. Web.

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. (2022). Juvenile population characteristics. Web.

Pedace, R. (2004). [Review of the book The Persistence of Poverty in the United States by G. L. Mangun, S. L. Mangun, & A. M. Sum]. Journal of Economic Issues, 38(3), 865-868. Web.

Schweiger, G. (2019). Ethics, poverty and childrens vulnerability. Ethics and social welfare, 13(3), 288-301. Web.

Tackie, D. N. O. (2021). An examination of poverty: Dimensions, causes, and solutions. Journal of Rural Social Sciences, 36(2), 2-26. Web.

This free essay on poverty as a social problem looks at a grave problem that exists in America and in the world. It provides reasons why people are experiencing poverty as well as some solutions.

Introduction

Society often perceives poverty as an individualistic issue, believing it is a consequence of bad decisions. That is, people themselves are responsible for the level of income and financial stability of households. However, the subject is much more complex as poverty also results from inadequate structuring of the countrys economy, distribution of goods, and other sectors, making it a social problem. Failure to build a system that would help citizens become financially stable results in various issues associated with crime levels, education, health care, and others. The government is the one that should work to solve them.

Literature Review

There are numerous studies and publications researching the reasons behind poverty. E. Royce (2019) tries to explain in his book how the existing economic system in the United States prevents citizens from reaching an adequate level of income and financial support. The main idea is that the current structure of how goods are distributed across the population does not benefit a large portion of it. Few rich individuals grow wealthier yearly, while millions struggle to find a stable job with a minimum wage.

The inequality created by the governments failure to build a fair economic system results in a range of social problems. The idea of a poverty line as a measure of well-being has not changed much since the 1960s despite the obvious changes in consumption patterns (Royce, 2019). It is calculated as the sum required for purchasing essential items for living, which does not include modern commodities such as computers, mobile phones, and others.

As a result, low-income people become socially isolated since they do not possess things essential for the modern lifestyle, like social networks. They may be excluded from a community for not corresponding with the public image of active individuals. These mechanisms, combined with the dominant idea of the necessity to achieve success, push poor people away from social life. This factor comes together with the inability to receive proper health care and education services.

The literature also contains studies on how poverty affects the behavior of individuals. For instance, children exposed to life in a low-income household are more likely to develop adverse reactions in the future due to strain resulting from the inability to receive wished items (McFarland, 2017). When placed in a densely populated neighborhood, they may later cause legal problems, creating delinquent areas.

Poverty as a Social Problem: Reflection

It is easy to predict the social issues that poor people face daily. They cannot receive proper health care services as they are usually costly. Moreover, many commercial organizations offering low-paid jobs traditionally based on customer service may prevent employees from taking sick leaves. As a result, people suffer from various illnesses without attending a hospital, fearing to lose a work placement.

Another issue is the inability of poor people to send their children to high-performing schools, which are expensive as a rule. This factor causes youth to continue living with the same income level as their parents since the absence of quality education prevents them from receiving a decent job. Moreover, children who cannot acquire goods valued by their peers are likely to adopt criminal behavior to achieve success since community norms and morals do not help this purpose.

Solutions to Poverty as a Social Problem

Summarizing all the above said, it becomes evident that changing the existing economic structure on the governmental level is the most appropriate solution to the issue of poverty. There should be a strategy covering all the aspects affected by this problem. The goal is to increase the level of financial support for disadvantaged groups and give more opportunities for people to grow their income.

Firstly, the social sector should be transformed to meet the needs of all citizens. The government should increase the financing of schools so that all children will have access to quality education. Also, various programs should engage youth in activities after classes. Another step is to make health care affordable for everyone, and there should be no pressure on workers when they decide to take sick leaves.

Secondly, the structure of budget spending should be redesigned. It is evident that social support programs require much financing from taxes. One of the possible strategies is to make the government spend less on other sectors. Also, solving the issue of delinquent behavior among youth by advancing social support may cut costs on police functioning as there will be a lower need for services such as patrolling.

Social Problems: Poverty Essay Conclusion

Poverty is a structural problem resulting from a countrys inadequate economic system. It creates various social issues associated with poor health care services, low-quality education, criminal activity, and others. Poverty is a complex subject that cannot be resolved shortly. However, one of the possible strategies is to provide better financial and social support for the population, which will create more opportunities for people to increase their income level.

References

McFarland, M. (2017). Poverty and problem behaviors across the early life course: The role of sensitive period exposure. Population Research & Policy Review, 36(5), 739-760.

Royce, E. (2019). Poverty and power: The problem of structural inequality (3rd ed.). Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.

Pervasive social and material inequalities, combined with theories of economic self-regulation, have led to the view that the poor themselves are primarily to blame for poverty, as they are unable to work, make bad decisions, and are subject to vice and laziness. Which group one belongs to determines ones access to the resources of life in the broadest sense of the word, from education to water and even air. Poverty, research has shown, is one type of stress that restructures the human brain in this fatal way. People from poor families often have a harder time controlling their emotions  as do those who suffer from depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. Self-education, learning new skills, and any intellectual activity in general  the more people load the brain with such work, the more active and younger it is.

The most unprotected group of people are children, and when it comes to poverty, they are doubly vulnerable: Human cubs are forced to be born with an unformed brain. It can be compared to open code, which users adjust to themselves. The environment, emotional state and character of speech of people around, peculiarities of nutrition, variety of toys  all this influences the structure and work of the brain of the future adult. Not only genetics determines the peculiarities of the development of this most complex organ, but also environmental factors: toxic substances, poor diet, the use of drugs and drugs by parents, social deprivation and domestic violence. All of these signs are more characteristic of life in and around the poverty line.

In addition to these, there are other stressors: the parents hard work or frequent job changes, regular food shortages, limited access to necessary medicines, unemployment and homelessness.

According to data obtained by American scientists, the brain volume of members of a family with an income of 1.5 minimum standards is 3-4% smaller, and for children living below the poverty line, this lag reaches 10% (Wise, 2016). A difficult financial situation affects the frontal lobe, which controls attention, emotion regulation and learning processes, the temporal zone, which is important for learning speech, and the hippocampus, which allows information to be processed and remembered. Researchers attribute about 20% of the responsibility for poor and impoverished childrens poor academic performance solely to an environment that slows brain maturation.

The poor person, because of this cognitive overload, may find it difficult not only to plan financial behavior, get an education and think strategically  but also to educate their children, shaping their brains against the patterns of poverty. Affluent parents, on the other hand, will find it all easy: asking leading questions, involving the child in decision-making, listening to his desires, letting him explore and overwhelming mom and dad with endless how?, why?, why?, teaching him to curb impulses in exchange for long-term rewards (Wise, 2016). Science shows that financial hardship can physically rob us of the ability to do the right and reasonable thing. Thus, poverty reproduces itself for generations at the level of brain structure and epigenetic traits.

Growing up in poverty can change the way our brains work through neuro-management and training  but this is very difficult to achieve without transforming the environment around us, making it friendlier, more empowering and stimulating to learn. If training the brain is in the realm of personal responsibility, then changing the environment and eliminating enormous inequalities is clearly a collective task. Because of discoveries in the field of neuroplasticity today, it should not be seen in the context of charity, but in terms of social necessity and the common good.

Poverty has a profound effect on a childs education; it starts early. Children born into poverty are less likely to read to their parents. One study found that 61% of families living in poverty have no childrens books at home (Wise, 2016). These children enter kindergarten with 50% less vocabulary than their peers, and that is just the beginning. Public schools in the U.S. get most of their funding from property taxes, and in most cases, families have no way to send their children to school outside of the neighborhood in which they live (Wise, 2016). This means that children living in poorer neighborhoods are forced to go to underfunded, often overcrowded, dysfunctional schools with high teacher absenteeism rates and generally low expectations of their students.

Families living in poverty are almost always food insecure. Free and reduced-price lunches are available in most schools for children whose families earn less than a certain annual income. Free breakfast is becoming more common, but is not yet available everywhere and this meal is only available on school days. The foods they have access to are often unhealthy. Fat, sodium and preservatives increase the shelf life, which makes foods cheaper.

Poor children often do not have access to quality health care, so they are sicker and more likely to miss school. Poor children are less likely to have well-fitting, weather-appropriate clothes that are not only uncomfortable and distracting, but also make them more susceptible to injury, illness and bullying. Poor children are socially ostracized because they cannot afford to participate in extracurricular activities and do not have all the cool toys and tech gadgets that other kids have. They often come from families that are not educated enough themselves and are ill-equipped to help with homework. They are likely to have seen or experienced several traumatic events, which pretty much guarantees that they will develop PTSD, but they do not have the resources to get the treatment and support they need They are likely to be wrongly labeled as having behavioral problems or learning disabilities because they do not have adequate coping strategies for stress.

Tests conducted by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania showed that preschoolers from poor families have two crucial neurocognitive functions  language and executive function (which is responsible for making decisions and choosing which stimuli to respond to)  that perform markedly worse than middle-class peers. Researchers also tested older children, in elementary and middle school  the gap in the performance of these systems persisted. That is, poorer children have underdeveloped specific brain areas responsible for language skills and situational awareness, namely the prefrontal cortex and areas of the left hemisphere around the lateral sulcus (Wise, 2016). Areas on which memory depends are poorly developed. The researchers did not find a similarly pronounced difference in the activity of other systems  visual and spatial thinking.

The two most important external factors that make those growing up in poverty get smarter are purely social. Such children lack the right cognitive stimuli  books, toys, movies and, yes, parental attention. Life at the lower rungs of the social hierarchy is full of vicissitudes and unpleasant emotions. Neuropsychologists have found that a stimulus-poor environment (such as a lack of toys) negatively affects the brains language system, and stress affects memory.

When people try to build a wall between our children and poorer children, they unknowingly widen the mental gap associated with wealth inequality. They deprive children from poorer families of the important cognitive stimulus of communicating with their more advanced peers, and create additional stress by provoking social hostility. If we dont do this, and take it for granted that everyone learns and plays together in public school, we can hope that the world in which our children will live will not be as wolfish as it is now. They would not have to spend their lives hiding behind fences, playing in ghettos, moving around their city as if they were behind enemy lines.

Reference

Wise, P. H. (2016). Child poverty and the promise of human capacity: Childhood as a foundation for healthy aging. Academic pediatrics, 16(3), S37-S45.

Introduction

Poverty is a lack of money to meet basic needs, including housing, food, and clothing. It deprives people of liberty, physical and mental well-being, and safety (The Economist, 2019). Manifestations of poverty include malnutrition and hunger, inability to obtain education and satisfy other basic needs, social discrimination and exclusion, and insufficient participation in decision-making. Poverty concerns people below the subsistence level and everyone around them.

Discussion

Most crimes against property are often committed in poor areas. Sellers and lenders suffer from loss of business when potential customers do not have enough money to spend or invest (Democracy Now!, 2020). Furthermore, poverty is a vicious circle from which families and individuals seem unable to escape (The Economist, 2019a). It may be because people are no longer producing but consuming (TRT World, 2019). Martin Luther King talked about the importance of equal treatment for everyone, and I agree with him (Curtis, 2020). Indeed, poor people have fewer opportunities for a comfortable life and no options to escape from this vicious circle.

There is a vital need to attract public attention to the question of poverty. I want to emphasize public awareness of the problem of poverty that exists among us and is not an alien entity far removed from our collective space and consciousness. If we can confront the impact of poverty in this discussion, it will make us less desensitized to its devastation (The Economist, 2019b). Part of the reason poverty is so chronic in America is that, for many, it is invisible; thus, there has not been a systemic public policy solution.

There are many manifestations of poverty if society does not refuse to neglect them. If the person goes out at night to any downtown and sees the tent cities or visits the homeless shelters overcrowded with families (Now This News, 2020). The individual goes to a social service agency on a Monday, has to wait half the day for services-emergency food stamps, and remains in an emergency care facility to be treated for mental health issues (The Periphery, 2020). The person intimately learns the face of poverty, how it stretches its tentacles around society in a choke grip, and how the person can barely breathe to get out from the devastating impact.

Conclusion

Therefore, poverty is not a problem for a person but for the whole nation that should be considered. Poverty eradication is vital for the growth of the country and the economy.

References

Curtis, M. C. (2020). How William Barber II uses his faith to fight for justice. Time. Web.

Democracy Now! (2020). The poor people campaign  We cant be silent anymore: Rev. Barber & poor peoples campaign push presidential debate on poverty. Pressenza New York. Web.

Now This News. (2020). The reality of poverty in America. Working woman testifies about reality of poverty in the U.S. [Video]. YouTube. Web.

The Economist. (2019a). Why is there still poverty in America? [Video]. YouTube. Web.

The Economist. (2019b). How to help the American poor. [Video]. YouTube. Web.

The Periphery. (2020). [2020 homelessness documentary] The wall: Raw stories from the 2018 Minneapolis homeless camp. [Video]. YouTube. Web.

TRT World. (2019). Poverty in America [Video]. YouTube. Web.

Introduction

Poverty is a major global issue, which affects all nations across the globe. It is important to note that the given problem is a complex matter, which requires a multifaceted understanding rather than a generalized or simplified approach. In other words, it has a wide range of causes and can affect different members of society to various degrees. The given research paper will primarily argue that poverty is a problem caused by a combination of behavioral, structural, and political systems, and it can have an effect on many aspects of human life, such as health, especially among children.

Literature Review

The current literature is indicative of the fact that poverty is a complex set of issues, which has roots and effects in a wide range of facets on individual and social lives. It is stated that there are three theories, which can be used in combination in order to explain the causes of poverty, which are behavioral, structural, and political (Brady 158). The behavioral model primarily focuses on incentives and culture, which, in conjunction, determine behavior leading to poverty, and the latter reciprocally affects or creates a positive feedback loop to incentives and cultures (Brady 158). In the case of structural models, the core elements are economic and demographic contexts, which shape the behavior towards poverty, facilitate behavioral influence on poverty, and cause poverty directly (Brady 158). In other words, these influences have three nodes of influence, which can be observed at the behavioral stage, facilitation, and poverty itself. In the case of a political model, there are four major components, such as behavior, institutions, policy, and power, which all lead to or cause poverty (Brady 158). Institutions and power sources shape policies, which create poverty and facilitate behavioral patterns in favor of poverty. Although the power element leads to the problem indirectly through policies, institutions can influence poverty both directly and indirectly through policies. In other words, all three major models revolve around behavior and its facilitation of poverty, which means that interventions need to factor in institutions, power dynamics, economic and demographic contexts, incentives, and cultures.

Although the problem of poverty affects all members of society to a certain extent, the most vulnerable population is comprised of children. Child poverty is a highly intricate issue, which is caused by the environment, neighborhoods, poor parenting practices, parental stress, and income (La Placa and Corlyon 11). In other words, there is a strong chance of children brought up in poverty to remain in such a state compared to children raised with proper parental care and support. In addition, other evidence suggests that many mental health problems are due to poverty because the very physical, economic, and social environment that causes poverty is also a cofactor of mental health issues (Wahlbeck et al. 505). In other words, the effects of poverty are multifaceted, where it directly or indirectly leads to both financial and non-financial struggles.

It is important to note that the effects of poverty are most prominent in regard to overall health. It is stated that health inequality, for the most part, is facilitated by poverty (Chokshi 1312). The issue is more exacerbated in the United States, where healthcare is mostly privatized and run by for-profit organizations. One should be aware that although income is a major cofactor, wealth inequality is more severe in comparison to income inequality, which means that people in poverty not only have less access to proper healthcare services but also lack emergency funds in case of serious health problems.

Discussion

It is evident that poverty is a major concern and social issue, which is caused by a complex set of factors, and thus, it should not be addressed in a simplistic manner. The changes and interventions need to be systemic, where all cofactors are handled appropriately. A potential solution cannot solely revolve around creating better incentives and financial support because power structures and institutions need also be transformed to create policies favoring people in poverty. In addition, it is of paramount importance to factor in economic and demographic contexts since certain groups can be more vulnerable to the ramifications of poverty than others. One of the most vulnerable groups includes children, who are directly dependent on their parents and unable to change the situation on their own. Mental health and health, in general, can be severely impacted by poverty, which diminishes ones capability to escape poverty, and thus, it creates a positive feedback loop, where for individuals in poverty, it becomes even more challenging to find ways to reverse their financial state.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is important to note that poverty is a multifaceted and complex issue. It is caused by a combination of political, structural, and behavioral systems, which facilitate poverty both directly and indirectly. The effects are also intricate and systemic, where individuals in poverty suffer from mental health complications, overall health inequality, and many other problems, such as homelessness. Children are the most affected and vulnerable groups to the issue, which can lead to developmental problems and an increase in their likelihood of becoming subjected to poverty during their adulthood.

Works Cited

Brady, David. Theories of the Causes of Poverty. Annual Review of Sociology, vol. 45, no. 1, 2019, pp. 155-175.

Chokshi, Dave. Income, Poverty, and Health Inequality. JAMA, vol. 319, no. 13, 2018, pp. 1312-1313.

La Placa, Vincent, and Judy Corlyon. Unpacking the Relationship between Parenting and Poverty: Theory, Evidence and Policy. Social Policy and Society, vol. 15, no. 1, 2016, pp. 11-28.

Wahlbeck, Kristian, et al. Interventions to Mitigate the Effects of Poverty and Inequality On Mental Health. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, vol. 52, 2017, pp. 505514.

Theodore Roethke is a renowned American writer whose poetry is figurative and melodic. My Papas Waltz is one of the most known poems by the poet, and it deals with a moment in a boys life. The relationship between the father and the son is the primary theme of the poem, with specific attention paid to love, as well as the financial insecurity of the family. Roethke depicts the game the father and his son play for only several minutes, but this romping tells the story of this familys life and the relationship between the two. The present paper includes a brief analysis of the poem with a focus on imagery and figurative language.

The poem has two major aspects that attract the readers attention, and one of them is the sons love. The boy is ready to romp with the father even though the chosen game was not easy (Roethke). The boy is happy to spend time with his father even though the latter is very drunk. The extent to which the man is drunk is described with the help of a bright metaphor: The whiskey on your breath / Could make a small boy dizzy (Roethke).

The concentration of alcohol in the fathers body is sufficient to make a child drunk by inhaling. The game is rather violent, and the boy has to tolerate pain, but he still wants to continue dancing: At every step you missed / My right ear scraped a buckle (Roethke). The narrator is also ready to accept quite a harsh caress of his father who beat time on my head (Roethke). Irrespective of all these violent expressions of affection, the son loves his father clinging to his shirt (Roethke). The son loves his father who tries to spend time with him, romping and having fun.

The imagery the poet uses helps the reader to understand the attitude of the father. The waltzing takes place in a room where the child sleeps, which can be his bedroom. The house is not a very solid building as a game (although somewhat violent) can make the pans / Slid from the kitchen shelf (Roethke). It is also clear that the father has to work hard to provide for his family as his hands are battered on one knuckle and caked hard by dirt (Roethke).

These metaphors describe the economic status of the family and the problems they have. Obviously, the father is tired and overwhelmed with negative emotions. However, he still finds time and energy to play with his little son before his bedtime. The setting of the poem and the utilized imagery sheds light on the way the father feels about the son. The relationship between the man and his little son is not easy, just like the waltz itself. Importantly, the waltz is a metaphor standing for this relationship that can be fun and painful at the same time.

In conclusion, it is possible to state that in My Papas Waltz, Theodore Roethke describes the relationships between the father and the son. The two characters love each other irrespective of some negative aspects that could make any family bond less strong. The son is ready to forgive his fathers drinking and harsh caress and simply wants to spend time with him. The man has to endure certain difficulties and work hard, but he is still eager to play with his little son. The father is unable to show his affection in a proper way, but the sons love makes the child accept such games gratefully.

Work Cited

Roethke, Theodore. My Papas Waltz. Poetry Foundation, 2020. Web.

Bill Clinton was quoted saying that the key to ending poverty is education (paraphrased). However, many critics have refuted this claim and insisted that education contributes to poverty, at least from the conflict theory perspective. In this regard, education shows inequalities as noted in race, class, and gender relations. Thus, it is directly responsible for advancing inequalities when equal opportunities are not provided for learners as shown in the video, A Tale of Two Schools.

Consequently, critics have observed that education has failed in its major goal of ensuring that every child succeeds in learning and later on in life. Significantly, educational achievements determine subsequent aspects of life, including the choice of college, career, and earnings. Multiple factors have however undermined the role of education as a tool for poverty eradication and social mobility. This short assessment presents at least three examples of differences between the schools that lead to disadvantages in the education system and finally provides a suggestion to help bridge the gap.

School resources

It appears that some schools in the US are well endowed with learning resources and other state-of-the-art facilities relative to others. Consequently, the education system, in this respect, greatly contributes to inequality. In poorly financed schools, teachers are forced to supplement teaching resources with their resources, which are meager and cannot meet the needs of all students (A Tale of Two Schools). In this case, the lack of resources due to inadequate funding significantly contributes to learner disadvantage in some schools across the US.

Means of transport to school

From the video, getting students to school is one of the major issues many students face. While some students may drive to school, some must commute for several hours via multiple buses. Although students transit challenges are individualized and difficult to understand, they indicate how getting to learning institutions to fast and efficiently is difficult for some students. Consequently, education is responsible for learning inequality, especially when buses fail to run on time, which leads to shorter class hours and ultimately absenteeism. Therefore, student transit is a source of inefficiency that leads to disparities. In some instances, poorly equipped schools may fail to provide means of transportation for their students (McDaniels 1).

Academic subjects

The short video shows that American students are not exposed to the same academic content they need to learn. This implies that the education system creates inequality when the central issue concerns equal opportunity to learn similar content across various disciplines, including leadership. Academic contents are the core of schooling, which in this case demonstrate inequality in the system. The video shows that academic subject coverage has large inequalities. Hence, learners are exposed to different learning opportunities. One should not be surprised that inequality in academic subjects is common in underprivileged schools.

Students who attend poorly equipped neighborhood schools found in high-poverty areas are often exposed to less thorough academic content. Some schools demonstrate high-levels of academic subject specialization while others have general instructional contents, which only advance inequality in the education system that is responsible for learning difficulties (Jensen 67; Alphonso and Grant 1; Burkam and Lee 1).

It is widely acknowledged that many challenges have hampered the education system in the US. Hence, educational reforms can be used to address current inequalities brought about by the current education system (Gross-Loh 1). Schooling funding can help toward alleviating some resource-related issues that many schools in marginalized areas encounter. Also, other factors, which have promoted inequality in the system, such as tests and assessments, teacher and student retention, and supporting low-scoring schools, can help in addressing the problem.

Works Cited

A Tale of Two Schools. Online video clip. YouTube. 2009. Web.

Alphonso, Caroline, and Tavia Grant. A tale of two schools: The correlation between income and education in Toronto. The Globe and Mail. 2014. Web.

Burkam, David T., and Valerie E. Lee. Inequality at the starting gate. 2002. Web.

Gross-Loh, Christine. Finnish Education Chief: We Created a School System Based on Equality. The Atlantic. 2014. Web.

Jensen, Eric. Teaching with Poverty in Mind. Alexandria, VA: ASCD, 2009. Print.

McDaniels, Cynthia. Equality of Educational Opportunity: Race and Finance in Public Education. 2016. Web.