Blog 9: Global poverty could be up to a third higher than reported

Summary:
There are over 1 billion people in the world who are living off of $1.25/day. A recent research says that the poverty line is well above what we know is it today, because of our specific definition of poverty. They took into account shelter, sanitation, water, information, nutrition, health and education to get a better look at how many people are actually impoverished. The study that was reports in the Journal of Sociology says the World Bank isn't aware of these numbers because they don't take all of these factors into account. From a study done in Vanuatu it showed that 5% of children live in poverty according to the dollar a day measure, but 17% of children live in poverty according to the basic need of food and shelter. It states that the World Bank need to take a more accurate measurement on the poverty line because, if they did it would substantially increase about 30%.

Analysis:
 I believe that the reason for the bank not going into depth with the measurements previously taken to get a count of the people in poverty is because they will find themselves in more trouble than they really bargained for. It doesn't make sense that they only go off of the dollars a day measurement, because I'm sure not every family has the same amount of kids and can make a living off of $1.25 a day. Sub-sequentially, given them false number of those who are impoverished. Every family is unique and their basic need for food and shelter may out way the next families basic needs. If the World Bank really wants to be of assistance to people who are in poverty, they really need to think about going beyond the surface and really take into account the things that people in poverty desperately need. The faster they get a count of these people, the faster they can make a budget to help them.

http://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2014/april/global-poverty.html