Annemiek on Poverty

One of the world’s most significant obstacles to overcome is poverty. In 2012 almost half the world, three billion people, lived on less than $2.50 a day. The average poverty line in developing countries is $2 a day. Taiwan is the country with the lowest poverty rate of 1.16% of its citizens living below the poverty line. By observing Taiwan, a foundation for reducing the amount of poverty in other countries around the world can be built.

            In 1999, the Taiwanese government spent about $5.08 billion on social welfare programs. This allows the government to provide assistance to its impoverished citizens. It aids with job-placement for the wage earners in the family, educational aid for school-age children, and health programs for mothers and children. In addition to that, the government provides a monthly subsidy to the elderly or disabled that are not able to work. The government also pays the health premium in full for low-income households in its National Health Insurance program, and it provides emergency financial aid if needed. Any citizen that is ages 25 to 65 and are not covered by specific social insurance programs, such as one for laborers or members of the military, are covered under the National Pension Act. This extends the net of social insurance to the entire adult population in Taiwan. The Indigenous Peoples Basic Act requires the government to provide resources to the indigenous groups to help them to develop a system of self-governance, conceive policies that protect their rights, and preserve their language and culture. These social welfare programs aid the Taiwanese government in regulating and reducing the poverty.

            The US has similar policies such as Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, yet in 2010 15.1% of Americans lived in poverty. Population also factors into poverty, because the more inhabitants a country has, the more money that is needed to have a safety net for them. Taiwan has a population of roughly 23 million; the US has a population of about 313 million. The ideal country would have a medium sized population and be able to provide a safety net for every one of its citizens. Social welfare programs allow the country to prevent poverty by having a support system for its citizens

The more money that is spent on the people, aids the country in moving forward and overcoming the obstacle of poverty.