Structural poverty

Structural poverty, or chronic poverty, refers to a type of poverty in which there is a deficiency in infrastructure and income in society. Structural poverty, in its measurement, combines two criteria. On the one hand, it is based on the poverty line, while, on the other hand, it uses the Unmet Basic Needs (UBN) approach.

Thus, the first imputes the condition of poor to a population unsatisfied with income enough to support the cost of a decent life. Meanwhile, the second describes poverty with inherent deficiencies; be it housing, nutrition, access to education, health, etc. In contrast to this, there is conjunctural poverty.

Differences between structural poverty and temporary poverty

Thus, there are different methods to measure poverty. In contrast to structural measurement, we have conjunctural measurement. Both serve to measure poverty in a given territory. Therefore, while structural measurement is based, first of all, on imputing the condition of poor to a population dissatisfied with income enough to sustain the cost of a decent life. As well as, secondly, describing poverty with the deficiencies inherent to it; whether in housing, nutrition, access to education, health, etc.

The current measurement, in this sense, is based on the measurement of monetary and temporal poverty. That is, it establishes a basic food basket, as well as a total basic basket. In this way, measurement criteria are established in which those families, or people, who do not have access to both baskets are considered poor.

Causes of structural poverty

Among the main causes that generate structural poverty, the following should be highlighted:

• Corruption.
• Armed conflicts.
• Discrimination and social exclusion.
• Massive population growth.
• Diseases and epidemics.
• Economic inequality.
• Natural disasters.

These are some of the causes that lead a country to present structural poverty in its society.

Consequences of structural poverty

According to the United Nations (UN), poverty generates a series of consequences that deteriorate the quality of life in the territories in which it occurs. Furthermore, a recent study shows the effects that structural poverty can have on society. Thus, this type of poverty could have the following consequences:

• Depression.
• Lack of spirit
• Anxiety.
• Increasing feeling of discomfort.
• Constant perception of pessimism.
• Inability to move.

This structural poverty, over time, ends up having a series of consequences that, despite not being so striking, have detrimental effects on society.