Is population is the real cause of poverty?

Question

well it just that I want to know if our population here in the philippines is main cause why we are in the state of poverty,I just want to know why our country suffer so much.....pls help me to know the reason so that I will know what to do.

Answer 1

My answer to your question is an emphatic 'no'. To find the cause(s) of poverty, one must look at the cultures within all societies that propagate poverty. And ALL societies propagate poverty. Because there are many varied political schemes throughout the world and disparate belief systems even within neighborhoods, we must assume that there is no 'one' right answer or 'cause' to poverty.

In some countries, gross poverty is the byproduct of the cultural systems, survival mechanisms and natural resources in place . Take Ethiopia for example, the population is large there because families still live within the ‘tribal’ framework and mentality. Given the poor living conditions, lack of resources and the high mortality rate, a family can ensure the advancement of its bloodline only by producing offspring in excess of the mortality rate. If 6 out of 8 children die within one year of birth then the family had better produce 8 children or more. This may be a poor example, but you get the idea. The two key factors here are the lack of resources and the high mortality rate – they are central to the ‘poverty’ experienced in this and similar countries/regions.

In developed countries such as yours (Philippines) the causes of poverty become complex. Though a stable political system ensures economic growth and security, it cannot create enough growth for all of the citizenry to prosper given the global community that it must also serve necessary for the continued survival of the country. One must also consider the history of the country and the events that have led up to the present day. In most, if not all cases, moving through a succession of political schema (tribal, feudal, monarchy, oligarchy, etc.) is equal to rebuilding a house without getting rid of the majority of its parts. A complete purging of the old is impossible, and, if there was poverty and/or overpopulation in the old system, it is carried over into the new system and creative decision-making and brave decision-making must be done by not only the leaders but the general citizenry as well.

Take for example, China. They were, for years, controlling the population by restricting not only the number of births a family could have, but also, placing, if you will, a moratorium on female births. China has benefited from this practice (though some would say the practice was cruel and inhumane, etc.) The amount of relative poverty has declined in China and the country has been steadily moving toward industrialization. Can we then say that poverty is caused by outdated economic principles and population practices? Yes and No.

On the one hand, a move from agriculture to industrialization allows for a richer economy. Yet, at the same time, it necessitates population growth. People are required to operate machinery, build communities and infrastructure, etc. More people/more need. If the country does not have the manpower (population) to provide for the maintenance of its society, then it must ask populations outside of its community to fulfill the need.

We also find within these industrialized regions large numbers of poor people. What gives? Assimilation is not automatic. Therefore, those who cannot or will not integrate will be left outside of the curtain of wealth. These ‘poor’ can only look on as others live gracefully in their wealth.

Look at the U.S.A. for example. We have an excess of resources and wealth, yet there are tens of thousands of children who are homeless, shoeless, and ill. There are corporations boasting unprecendented profits and growth, yet each and every day there are thousands and thousands of individuals in soup lines begging for a meal. Farms in America produce an overabundance of crops - so much so that the government has mandated certain excesses to be burned or otherwise destroyed. Yet there are millions of children worldwide who are starving.


The cause of poverty is life itself. It’s that simple. There are only so many resources available (wheher food, housing, or help) and, sadly, only the strong survive. No matter how much it may disturb you or I, it is a fact. We cannot outsmart or out-run the law of nature. We can dress it up in our technologies and we can address the needs of most communities, but there never will be complete equality and prosperity among the inhabitants of earth – whether man, beast or fowl.

So what is left for us then? To love each other will all our hearts and minds and souls. To share what we have. To live each day thinking not only of ourselves, but of our neighbors, our brothers and sisters of mankind, and to realize that our actions affect the condition of the entire world and its inhabitants. The products we buy and consume and the trash we throw away and the pollution and waste we produce affects the entire earth. We are not alone. We are not isolated. We are intrinsically interlocked, interwoven and collectively unique.

As far as knowing ‘what to do’ – live. Live with the knowledge that living itself is a miracle and a blessing. Live with compassion to help others who do not have as much as you. Live with the determination that you are going to leave this world better than you found it. "Whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition". The words previous are from Ralph Waldo Emerson: from his discussion of SUCCESS. His view of success.

Live as if others mattered as much, if not more, than you.

Answer 2

Well, I think population is not the real or unique cause. One of the main reasons of poverty not only in Phillippines but in the whole world, is over population, more people reduces the numbers of chances to go to school, have a social health insurance or get a good job.

I think you all should start a campaing against over population, in México there's a social program, which slogan is Small family lives better, and that's true. To know the real reason of the poorness of your country, you'll find it, reading few statistics & making analysis of them.

Answer 3

nope..it's not population. It's the poor distribution of food and money and such and colonialism. The phillippines could very well be self-sufficient and flourishing if the food they grew and the labor of the people went directly back to the people. But sadly, things manufactured in this country are sent to the US and European countries so that the companies in these western countries can make a lot of money by paying your citizen very little for making the product. Therefore, you are left with little money and a shortage of resources. Then the ppl in the west have lots of money to buy an excess of things so that you have nothing. I'm am very sorry if you are in a state of poverty. If you are starving or malnourished, like many ppl around the world(including many in the US) I'll send you some food if you give me you're adress.


p.s. my friend's cousin is bamboo. (the rock singer)

Answer 4

This is such a complicated question that I seriously doubt anyone here on answers can give you an answer.

What could you do if it was the problem? get rid of people, force contraception?

The only thing I can think of to say to you is Education, for yourself, for women, for everyone.

Learning about history, math, anything can teach us so much about the whys and hows of things and help us make better decisions.

Yes population is a big problem, but it started long ago with the advent of farming and collecting foodstuffs which increased populations beyond natural capacities and created hierarchies that would affect homosapeins and the planet in a short time, more than compared to the time we lived within natural law.

I must also add that patriarchal societies propagate over breeding. Men going for power instead of thinking about consequences and women needing men to survive, give up what they have in order to survive and continue to be oppressed.

Answer 5

Yes over-population is one of the main causes, feeding them right is tremendous problem where availability of food is not enough to fill the stomachs. Poverty and corruption correlates, where few have too many to spend while too many have less in life. What to do? eradicate corruption and use the money instead to produce more, more food, more jobs, more money and more livelihood projects for the poor.

Answer 6

Greed is the cause of proverty, like the republican party who wants to get rid of income tax for the rich, yet the poor have to pay! that's why the poor is so poor. if you look at europe for example there is very little poverty, because every one especially the rich, get sacked with taxes. Americans can't have it both ways, its either greedy and needy, or equality.

Answer 7

sure, corruption is the reason of poverty interior the international. it is not in simple terms political corruption, even nonetheless it rather is ethical corruption. the guts of adult men is deceitful and crammed with evil. For out of the guts flows the two solid issues and words or evil issues and words. If love is on your heart then you definately will say and do loving issues, if selfishness is on your heart then you definately will say and do selfish issues.

Answer 8

No. So far the richest countries have all been democracies of one kind or another, with strong property rights and good rule of law. With these seemingly simple things in place, prosperity has grown to unimaginable heights in some countries like the US, Canada, the Euro-zone, and Japan.

Answer 9

Not necessarily.Lack of education,I think is the main cause,

Answer 10

it really complicated, theres not 1 reasonm, just do what u can to help out