Is poverty given or chosen?

Answer 1

Except for monks and nuns, it is not chosen, but it isn't a given either. Wealth is a direct function of productivity and self control. The average American produces 30 times the product the average Bangladeshi worker produces. Americans are also 30 richer. That is the connection. At the individual level, self control or patience is paramount. Culturally, you only need average patience, because the food consumed by one is the patient profit of another.

At the individual level, the capacity to defer consumption varies strongly with time preference, size of amount to defer, and overall income. People who accept lower interest rates are more patient, by definition. Since people discount hyperbolically instead of exponentially, most people cannot wait. It is only the most patient who seem to be able to accumulate very large sums.

Answer 2

In the US it is chosen. In many of the third world countries it is given to the extent as to become rich requires very little concern for the welfare of others. For example, I was born in Russia where my family became wealthy at the expense of the ones around. Then President Putin raided my family's company for "taxes owed," and my family was forced to emigrate to the States, leaving much of our wealth behind. Here I went to public school in seriously disadvantage district, I worked hard there unlike all the rest of the lazy minorities(not that I am a racist but in my school there were 6 white people, so essentially everyone was a minority). Then I graduated from high school a valedictorian went on to one of the top 5 universities in the world and just kept on working hard to get job offers from GS, Sequoia Capital, Morgan Stanley...However I went on to start my own company, that is one of the fastest growing in the industry in Ca. So yes, it is a choice, just work hard, pull your sh*t together and get a job!

Answer 3

What a stupid question. Of course poverty is not chosen. Do you think anyone wants to live in poverty? And what do you mean by given? Like the rich people made poor people poor just by sheer will?

It is neither. It is just a station in life, sometimes permanent, sometimes transitory. But it is never chosen and never given.

Answer 4

Mostly given. Sure, there are some people who are just lazy, but there are plenty of lazy rich people who are rich simply because of family and connections.

Children born into poverty really have no choice in the matter and aren't in a very good position to move themselves out of poverty.

Answer 5

If you're speaking of the USA then my experience indicates choice of lifestyle. The only restrictions I've found on moving up the socio-economic ladder are desire and work ethic.

I speak from experience. Raised by single mom. Shamed by the need for welfare and food stamps and other hand outs. Never had a doubt that none of the above would be in my future. Made good grades at a public school and used scholarships and grants to go to college. Now I'm a solid member of the mythical middle class and have little use for people who hide behind the "cycle of poverty" excuse.

Work hard, be honest in your dealings with others and persevere. Good things will follow.

Answer 6

to my knowledge poverty is chosen.

because poverty is common in all developed and developing countries in the world.

one who try to overcome the poverty ... finds a way and become rich by hard work, choosing alternate or changing storage's, keep on trying till succeed.

environment, time, money, government, helping hand and strong mind to face any problem also play in this role.

whatever may be .... if there is a mind there is a way...

Answer 7

You should watch the movie Pure Happiyness(It's spelled that way in the movie). It addresses the same subject. Will Smith had a son, and was pretty much homeless, but he never gave up hope, and worked his way to the top. Poverty is a choice.

Answer 8

Poverty is given by economic law (scarcity & laissez-faire) but chosen by political structures (inequality is codified and equality is banned).