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Azia Ludwig
Dr. KT Magnusson
Econ 2010
12/7/14

GLOBAL POVERTY SOLUTIONS

In 2012 former talk-show host Oprah Winfrey earned $175 million, director Michael
Bay earned $160 million and the President of the United States earned $400,000 (McConnell).
After reading these numbers it still seem mind blowing that we have global poverty, and poverty
in the United States. What is even crazier to think about is even the poorest Americans have
roofs over their heads, plenty to eat, and indoor toilets (Global Poverty). When reading the
article Global Poverty I cannot help but try to come up with some ideas to alleviate poverty.
The ideas that I came up with to help alleviate or slow down world poverty are cash transfer, an
education system, and health care system. With simple implementation I think we could really
start to make a dent into world poverty.
To start helping to deliberately change the world poverty level, I believe one of the best
ways is to start with cash transfers. Many people do not know what a cash transfer is, which is
defined as the provision of assistance in the form of cash to the poor or to those who face a
probable risk of falling into poverty in the absence of the transfer (World Bank). Some cash
transfers are known to be Social Security, unemployment benefits, and welfare assistance

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(McConnell). There are also non cash transfers which are services provided instead of cash, a
few of the services are known as Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps, and decreased school
lunches for children. I believe that this would be a great start to putting a halt to global poverty.
Obviously assistance is what is needed in poverty stricken areas, and perhaps this could be the
starting point.
Next, would be to start or create education and training programs. Currently there are
millions of educators in the world. As being in the education program prior to business, I know
that I would have loved to been able to provide education to children who otherwise would have
gone without. As I was reading in the Global Poverty article, most children dont stay in school
past the 8th grade. If there were an educational system to set up not only in aiding in their literacy
needs but also providing survival skills. The lack of knowledge is whats hindering the adults
now in the poverty stricken countries. Basic skills could at least get these children/ young adults
jobs. Maybe if there were a technical program, some as which we have here in the United State,
a short term program that teaches these children technical skills that could provide a job for them
in the future. Seeing as skills is what they need to prosper anywhere in the world. At least then
they could attempt to earn more than $2 a day. I know here in the states $2 can get you a 20oz.
bottle of water, maybe one liter, and thats if the bottle is on a special sale. I cannot imagine
what that amount of money will get you anywhere else.
Lastly would be a healthcare system. This health care system could also be taught in
education system to let children and adults know the harms of improper care of the human body.
The idea is to educate all people on a standard health care checkup for every one of all ages.
Women could have close to proper care for themselves during pregnancy and knowledge of
before pregnancy. Children could have vaccines for all types of illnesses, vaccines that most

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children get in their infancy stages of life. This would also include health care checkups for men.
Now this health care system could be something as simple as what we call a physicians
immediate care or something simple as a doctors office. I understand the means to have a
legitimate hospital is a bigger project for the future, and then surgical procedures could be
performed. For now a least an office that can treat illness and preventive care would be
extremely beneficial.
In conclusion, these are just ideas that are a start to end world poverty. I believe in going
in further research and submitting ideas to a committee will be more powerful. It will then create
an action plan to aid in poverty. I also think getting the community involved in such activities
will take communities out of poverty themselves, it will set fire inside them and they want to
help and be a part of something greater. With everyone helping with global poverty it could
change the World Bank standard of just having a dollar a day to live off of. Perhaps more
Americans such as Oprah could stand to live with a little less money in donating to aid. I
honestly dont think she would actually notice if she had a million dollars less per year. I also
dont know how much she donates. So thats something I will do further research in as well. I
whole heartedly believe that my ideas could be a start of new world change. Again, the ideas
that I came up with to help alleviate or slow down world poverty are cash transfers and non-cash
transfers, an education and/ or training system, and health care system to help with preventive
care. There are many of programs in place that are helping poverty stricken areas around the
world right now, one them being Partners in Health. I suggest to take a further look and see if
maybe there is something your can do to help now.
The website for Partners in Heath- http://www.pih.org/

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WORKS CITED
Mcconnell. "Income Inequality, Poverty, and Discrimination." Microeconomics Connect
plus. 20th ed. S.l.: Irwin Mcgraw-Hill, 2013. 555-571. Print.
"World Bank Group." World Bank Group. Web. 7 Dec. 2014.
<http://www.worldbank.org/>.