"The Essence of Poverty" Reading Notes
Finished reading at Hangzhou Hut on August 11, 2023. I have so much to say about poverty. It can be said that since I have lived so long, I have been getting rid of poverty, and I will spend my whole life to avoid poverty. As a poor person, I don’t think there is a definite answer on how to get rid of poverty. My current point of view is to break the information gap, improve cognition, and take a long-term view. The higher the cognition, the more money you can make.
Before reading this book, I read an interview with an American homeless man. He was unable to settle down on the street, unable to break through his life of poverty. It turned out that his quilt, shoes, and daily necessities would be stolen. In normal work, this is an endless loop, and you can't get out of this loop. In order to break this confinement, the book "The Essence of Poverty" analyzes from many data and phenomena, why one is poor, and what can be done to make one less poor. A large amount of experimental data comes from India, analyzed from the perspectives of welfare institutions, the government, nurses, officials, the poor, etc., and gives five points that can improve the lives of the poor. The author summarizes it at the end of the book. Let me sum it up in my own words.
(1) Improve sources of information for the poor, and these must be simple, attractive and reliable. In my opinion, it is to make up for the information gap.
(2) The poor have too many responsibilities and too many difficulties. They need help from many aspects at the same time to help them break out of the endless cycle of poverty.
(3) Provide the poor as much as possible to improve the market, such as loans, medical insurance, free assistance compared to certain fee assistance, and vouchers.
(4) The country must have the determination and definite actions to change poverty, and make efforts from the aspects of policy and politics
(5) It is necessary to have a clear role model, give the poor people hopeful beliefs, correct values, and world views, and find a beginning for a virtuous circle.
The above points are not enough to summarize all the points of view of all authors. Here's what I think is a good point
1、
Poverty doesn't just mean a lack of money, it robs a person of the ability to realize their potential.
2、
Poor people in developing countries spend a lot of money on weddings, dowries, baptisms, etc., probably out of fear of losing face.
3、
The question is not how much the poor spend on their health, but where their money is being spent. They often spend money on expensive treatments rather than cheap prevention.
4、
Given the opportunity, even the traumatized can take responsibility for their lives and escape extreme poverty.
5、
The obvious first choice for the poor is to make their lives a little less boring. The basic human needs for a good life may explain why India's food consumption has been declining.
6、
The special emphasis on government jobs suggests a yearning for stability among the poor, since such jobs, while less exciting, are generally very stable and, indeed, . Job security seems to be a line between the middle class and the poor.
7、
We are reluctant to offer unconditional favors to friends or neighbors. On the one hand, we might worry that pledging to help someone might create a sense of inertia in people—this is known as moral hazard. Or, people might ask for something when they don't have to. Or, the promise of mutual help doesn't really come true: I help you, but when it's your turn to help me, you're always busy with something else.
8、
Generally speaking, people who get adequate nutrition in childhood grow taller and smarter.
9、
Poor people are more skeptical of imagined opportunities and the possibility of any fundamental change in their lives. Their behavior often reflects the belief that any worthwhile change will take a long time. This would also explain why they focus on the present, making the day as enjoyable as possible, and celebrating when necessary.
10、
Success leads to greater success. When a situation improves, the improvement itself affects people's beliefs and behavior.
11、
The first step in getting out of poverty is to think about long-term goals and get used to making short-term sacrifices.