Investopedia

Continue to Site »

Poverty Trap

Filed Under »
Dictionary Says

Definition of 'Poverty Trap'

A mechanism which makes it very difficult for people to escape poverty. A poverty trap is created when an economic system requires a significant amount of various forms of capital in order to earn enough to escape poverty. When individuals lack this capital, they may also find it difficult to acquire it, creating a self-reinforcing cycle of poverty.
Investopedia Says

Investopedia explains 'Poverty Trap'

In order to escape the poverty trap, it is argued that individuals in poverty must be given sufficient aid so that they can acquire the critical mass of capital necessary to raise themselves out of poverty. This theory of poverty helps to explain why certain aid programs which do not provide a high enough level of support may be ineffective at raising individuals from poverty. If those in poverty do not acquire the critical mass of capital, then they will simply remain dependent on aid indefinitely and regress if aid is ended.

Articles Of Interest

  1.

    Standard Of Living Vs. Quality Of Life

    What is the difference between a standard of living and quality of life? Find out in this breakdown.

  2. Pay For College Without Selling A Kidney

    Save thousands of dollars on tuition with these tricks and little-known programs.

  3. Are We Losing The Middle Class?

    Find out where your income and lifestyle put you compared to the national average.

  4. Free Financial Counseling Programs For Students

    Learning to manage your money is no easy task, but there are plenty of resources designed especially to help.

  5. Microfinance: Philanthropy Through Industry

    Is microfinance a way to help the poor, or will it just make them poorer?

  6. Why The Consumer Price Index Is Controversial

    Find out why economists are torn about how to calculate inflation.

  7. Predict Inflation With The Producer Price Index

    Find out how the PPI can be used to gauge the overall health of the economy.

  8. Leading Economic Indicators Predict Market Trends

    Leading indicators help investors to predict and react to where the market is headed.

  9. Austerity: When The Government Tightens Its Belt

    When a government tightens its belt in tough economic times the entire nation feels the squeeze.

  10. Will Quantitative Easing Be Japan's Savior?

    The quantitative easing program, recently announced by the new governor of the Bank of Japan, Haruhiko Kuroda, is for a cash infusion of $1.4 trillion by the end of 2014. Will it help the Japanese ...
comments powered by Disqus
Marketplace
Hot Definitions

  1. Winner's Curse

    Because of incomplete information, emotions or any other number of factors regarding the item being auctioned, bidders can have a difficult time determining the item's intrinsic value. As a result, the largest overestimation of an item's value ends up winning the auction.

  2. Glocalization

    A combination of the words "globalization" and "localization" used to describe a product or service that is developed and distributed globally, but is also fashioned to accommodate the user or consumer in a local market.

  3. Disaster Loss

    A special type of tax-deductible loss, similar to a casualty loss, where a loss has been incurred by taxpayers who reside in an area that has been designated as a federal disaster area by the President.

  4. Fool In The Shower

    The notion that changes or policies designed to alter the course of the economy should be done slowly, rather than all at once.

  5. Pattern Day Trader

    An SEC designation for traders who trade the same security four or more times per day (buys and sells) over a five-day period, and for whom same-day trades make up at least 6% of their activity for that period.

  6. Cost-Push Inflation

    A phenomenon in which the general price levels rise (inflation) due to increases in the cost of wages and raw materials.
Trading Center