What is poverty what are the dimensions of poverty?
From my perspective working with communities, poverty isn't just about what people don't have - it's about what they can't do. It affects people's dignity, choices, and opportunities. The emotional and psychological dimensions are often overlooked - the constant stress of not knowing where your next meal is coming from, the shame of not being able to provide for your family, and the hopelessness that can set in. Real solutions need to address all these aspects, not just throw money at the problem.
I studied development economics in college, and we learned that poverty has evolved from being seen as just low income to understanding it as multidimensional deprivation. The UN Development Programme actually measures multidimensional poverty looking at: Health (nutrition, child mortality) Education (years of schooling, school attendance)* Standard of living (cooking fuel, sanitation, water, electricity, housing, assets)What's interesting is that someone might have enough income but still be poor in other dimensions - like lacking access to clean water or education. This broader understanding helps create better anti-poverty policies that address the root causes rather than just symptoms.
I’d put it this way: Poverty isn’t just about money. A person may have some income but if they don’t have access to good healthcare, education, or decent housing, they’re still in poverty. That’s why governments now consider factors like literacy, nutrition, sanitation, and even digital access as poverty indicators. For details, you can check the UNDP report: Multidimensional Poverty Index.
Poverty is much more than just lacking money - it's a complex issue with multiple dimensions. At its core, poverty means not having enough resources to meet basic needs like food, water, shelter, and healthcare. But the dimensions extend beyond just income:- Economic dimension: Lack of income, assets, and productive resources- Health dimension: Poor nutrition, limited access to healthcare, higher mortality rates- Education dimension: Low literacy rates, limited access to quality education- Social dimension: Discrimination, exclusion, and lack of participation in society- Security dimension: Vulnerability to violence and natural disastersIt's really about capability deprivation - not being able to live the life you value. The World Bank has some great resources on multidimensional poverty if you want to dive deeper.
Poverty, in the simplest terms, means not having enough resources to meet basic needs like food, clothing, and shelter. But modern economics explains poverty in a broader way with multiple dimensions: - Economic poverty: lack of income and assets. - Social poverty: exclusion from education, healthcare, and opportunities. - Political poverty: having no voice or influence in decision-making. The United Nations often defines poverty using the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) which covers health, education, and living standards.
When I studied sociology, the professor explained poverty as both absolute (bare minimum survival resources) and relative (how poor someone is compared to the society they live in). So in India, poverty is measured differently than in a developed country like the USA. That perspective helped me a lot to understand it beyond just income figures.