Theories of the Causes of Poverty

Abstract

There has been a lack of debate between and frameworks for theories of the causes of poverty. This essay proposes that most theories of poverty can be productively categorized into three broader families of theories: behavioral, structural, and political. Behavioral theories concentrate on individual behaviors as driven by incentives and culture. Structural theories emphasize the demographic and labor market context, which causes both behavior and poverty. Political theories contend that power and institutions cause policy, which causes poverty, and moderates the relationship between behavior and poverty. I review each theory’s arguments, contributions and challenges. Further, I explain how to integrate, classify studies into, and distinguish between theories. Ultimately, I argue that poverty research would benefit from more explicit theory and theoretical debate, as well as greater interdisciplinarity and integration between studies of the U.S., rich democracies, and developing countries.

Estimating Treatment Heterogeneity of International Monetary Fund Programs on Child Poverty with Generalized Random Forest

“…While macro oriented political economy studies tend to focus on the global system, micro oriented family sociology and welfare studies have a Global-North focus (Esping-Andersen 1990;Garfinkel et al 2016;Korpi and Palme 1998;McLanahan 2009;McLanahan and Percheski 2008). Extending this topic to non-Western societies is a key mission of social demographic and social stratification researchers (Beckfield 2018;Brady forthcoming). Hence, acquiring deeper knowledge about how families residing in the Global South cope with economic shocks would enhance sociological theory on whether these families respond differently to such dramatic events (Ayuso-Mateos, Barros, and Gusmao 2013; Cherlin 2012).…”

Food poverty contributors: individual, structural or political? Examining stakeholder perspectives using interviews and nominal group technique

“…"Food poverty" can be considered synonymous with "poverty" (King et al, 2015), and various theoretical perspectives as to why (food) poverty occurs exist. These can largely be compiled into three main themes: (1) behavioural/individual, (2) structural and ( 3) political (Brady, 2018;Sameti et al, 2012;Bradshaw, 2006). Individual or behavioural theories are rooted in the belief that the free market system provides opportunity for all and that individuals are therefore responsible for working hard in order to provide for themselves (Sameti et al, 2012).…”

“…Structural theories relating to poverty focus on how macro-and meso-demographic and economic factors can influence poverty status (Brady, 2018). Demographic contextual factors include factors such as neighbourhood disadvantage, age/gender composition and urbanisation, while economic contextual factors include economic growth and development, changes in markets, industrialisation and demand for skills (Townsend, 1979;Bradshaw, 2006;Brady, 2018). From an economic theoretical perspective, the neo-classical theory is one of the main labour-market theories which can be used when considering structural causes of food poverty (Sameti et al, 2012).…”

Trabajadores pobres en Argentina y en España: un análisis comparativo centrado en las desigualdades ocupacionales

“…La estructura productiva de ambos países guarda algunas semejanzas: hay un significativo predominio del sector de servicios (dos tercios de sus respectivos PIB se explican por tales actividades), una alta incidencia de microempresas o de empresas pequeñas, una tendencia al uso intensivo de fuerza de trabajo y una 4. Según Brady (2019), pueden diferenciarse tres enfoques sobre la pobreza: los comportamentales, los políticos y los estructurales. De acuerdo con este último -que es el que adoptamos aquí-, se enfatiza en determinantes estructurales como el tipo y el ritmo de crecimiento económico o el nivel de desarrollo, más que en las características de las personas pobres.…”