There is no clear definition of what a “poor country” is. The common understanding is that a country is poor if the majority of its people do not have a certain minimum living standard. Wikipedia lists a number of more quantitative criteria, ranging from low average income, or a low Gross National Income per capita, to a low Human-Development-Index [44]. This is not to say that material wealth would be the most important or the only factor to optimize. Yet, it constitutes a rough approximation for the well-being of the people. Poverty is usually also not distributed equally in the country: Certain ethnic, religious, or social groups might be particularly advantaged or disadvantaged. As Hans Rosling points out in an informative and entertaining talk about country statistics [130], the population in poor countries is usually affected very unequally by poverty.
The common assumption under any definition of “poor country” is that Japan, North America, Australia, New Zealand, Western Europe, and Israel are considered “not poor”. This essay will refer to these countries as “rich”. It will refer to Western Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand as “the West”. African countries and South-Asian countries are usually considered “poor”. This text, in particular, is inspired by my trips to Senegal, Morocco, South America, and India. Therefore, it mainly focuses on these regions as “poor”. I do not know in how far my thoughts transfer to other countries. Also, not all countries are equally poor. Some developing countries have a higher GDP than developed countries. Furthermore, some countries are behind on some accounts, but way ahead on others. Cuba, e. g. , has a lower child mortality rate than the US [130]. Therefore, this text will discuss potential reasons for poverty without claiming that they would apply equally to all poor countries.
There is considerable dispute about the right term for “poor countries”. The word “poor” has a very negative connotation. Furthermore, “poor countries” are not necessarily poor: They often have vast natural resources. On the other hand, terms such as “developing” or “industrializing” are very positive. They imply that the country would actually be moving out of poverty. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. I have therefore opted for the term “less economically developed country”, or “LED
There is no
clear
definition of what a
“poor
country”
is. The common understanding is that a
country
is
poor
if the majority of its
people
do not have a certain minimum living standard. Wikipedia lists a number of more quantitative criteria, ranging from low average income, or a low Gross National Income per capita, to a low Human-Development-Index [44]. This is not to say that material wealth would be the most
important
or the
only
factor to optimize.
Yet
, it constitutes a rough approximation for the well-being of the
people
. Poverty is
usually
also
not distributed
equally
in the
country
: Certain ethnic, religious, or social groups might be
particularly
advantaged or disadvantaged. As Hans
Rosling
points out in an informative and entertaining talk about
country
statistics [130], the population in
poor
countries
is
usually
affected
very
unequally
by poverty.
The common assumption under any definition of
“poor
country”
is that Japan, North America, Australia, New Zealand, Western Europe, and Israel
are considered
“not
poor”
. This essay will refer to these
countries
as “rich”. It will refer to Western Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand as “the West”. African
countries
and South-Asian
countries
are
usually
considered
“poor”
. This text,
in particular
,
is inspired
by my trips to Senegal, Morocco, South America, and India.
Therefore
, it
mainly
focuses on these regions as
“poor”
. I do not know in how far my thoughts transfer to other
countries
.
Also
, not all
countries
are
equally
poor
.
Some
developing
countries
have a higher GDP than developed
countries
.
Furthermore
,
some
countries
are behind on
some
accounts,
but
way ahead on others. Cuba,
e. g.
,
has a lower child mortality rate than the US [130].
Therefore
, this text will discuss potential reasons for poverty without claiming that they would apply
equally
to all
poor
countries.
There is considerable dispute about the right term for
“poor
countries”
. The word
“poor”
has a
very
negative
connotation.
Furthermore
,
“poor
countries”
are not
necessarily
poor
: They
often
have vast natural resources.
On the other hand
, terms such as “developing” or “industrializing” are
very
positive
. They imply that the
country
would actually be moving out of poverty. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. I have
therefore
opted for the term “less
economically
developed
country”
, or “
LED