Author: Rebeca Ilisoi

SEATTLE — Definitionally, poverty is straightforward. According to Neal Riemer, Douglas W. Simon and Joseph Romance in “The Challenge of Politics,” living on an income less than $1.25 a day is a common metric used for measuring extreme poverty. Living condition is factored into poverty’s definition as well. Access to food, clothing, shelter and medical supplies is as important as income. There is merit in regarding poverty quantitatively, but doing so ignores qualitative interpretations of poverty. Philosophical poverty is not a common phrase. This article will use it to refer to poverty’s deep seeded psychological roots and the theories surrounding…

SEATTLE — The world of theory is adjacent to the world of policy. Though policymakers do not always specifically seek the advice or commentary of theorists, theory indisputably shapes the decisions of policymakers. Harvard University professor Stephen M. Walt highlights the connection between theory and policy and urges an increase in their co-dependence. This is because theory shapes decision and policymaking. Thus by extension, theory shapes poverty relief. The various theoretical approaches to poverty shape the policies that direct the fight against poverty. Realism, liberalism, and social constructivism are three prominent and persuasive schools of thought. An individual’s idea of…

SEATTLE — Urban and rural poverty should be considered both together and separately, as there may be common solutions to alleviating them. Conversely, there will be factors and responses that are unique to each. Urban poverty refers to poverty experienced by those who live in cities. According to the World Bank, characteristics of urban poverty may include the following: limited access to employment opportunities, inadequate housing, unhealthy environments, little or no social protection, and limited access to medical aid and education. While most of the world’s poor live in rural areas, urban poverty persists. Currently, about half of the world…

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Over the last few years, Puerto Rico has suffered under the crippling weight of a large debt. Puerto Rico’s debt constitutes more than $70 billion in bond obligations and $50 billion in unpaid pensions. These numbers represent approximately 70 percent of Puerto Rico’s gross domestic product. Such startlingly high debt is uncommon for states in the U.S., whose typical debt represents 17 percent of their GDP. Puerto Rico’s debt has influenced more than 450,000 people to leave the state. In an attempt to stabilize its economy, the Puerto Rican government has been instituting budget cuts.…

SEATTLE — One of the facets of perpetual poverty is the inability for individuals to obtain essential medicines and healthcare needed for their survival. Many have disputed the role of patent laws on this matter, wondering if patents are a problem for poverty. It can be argued that intellectual property rights limit access to medicine and contribute to the cycle of poverty. Intellectual property rights are most effectively considered through the lens of the multilateral trade agreement Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). This agreement, established in 1995, is the constitution of all intellectual property right agreements. It is…

SEATTLE — The Micronesian region is an Oceanic region that encompasses five politically sovereign states. These states include the Marshall Islands, Kiribati, the Republic of Nauru, the Republic of Palau, and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). This small group of islands is situated in the heart of the Pacific Ocean. The level of education within the Micronesian region is relatively uniform throughout each state. Therefore, it is not unreasonable to focus on the entirety of the region’s education. According to the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), a branch of the United Nations that researches improvements in…

BANGKOK — Access to safe drinking water is a basic human right. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an intergovernmental organization that directs and coordinates international health, safe drinking water is that which does not “represent a significant risk to health over a lifetime of consumption.” By this metric, the water quality in Thailand has made tremendous improvements, but it is still lacking. The Global Aid Network (GAN), a worldwide humanitarian relief and development organization, says that increasing population and economic, agricultural, and industrial expansion are major causes of the deterioration of water quality in Thailand. Additionally, the contamination…

NEW DELHI — The concept of a Universal Basic Income (UBI) has been around for hundreds of years. Recently, it has re-emerged as a potentially viable solution to poverty. UBI is a form of redistributive income given to citizens regardless of their existing income. It is controversial because of its debatable equitability. The opposition has voiced concerns about those who might need to receive government help above the amount distributed by the UBI. As interest in Universal Basic Income increases and more research is done on the subject, a clearer picture of its merits and dangers appears. After India released…