The Global Construction of Poverty
• In 1948, the World Bank linked the poverty with country’s GNP(Gross National Products).
• The World Bank said that if a country’s per capita income is less than $100 per year, it is poor.
• National income became important criteria, not individuals.
• “Poor countries” has emerged for the first time in history.
• Economic and technological development became important measurement for poverty.
• The word “underdeveloped” has emerged (constructed), and poor countries were regarded as underdeveloped.
• It became the richer nations duty to help those “underdeveloped countries.”
• “Poor countries” believed that they were poor and in need of assistance.
• Under Basic Needs approach, monetary contribution was seen from the rich to the poor. But it is not economic investment.