Progress at reducing extreme poverty is likely to be much slower over the next two decades, concludes the Third Chronic Poverty Report, unless tougher action is taken to prevent set-backs and sustain progress.
The report underlines that escaping from poverty is not a one-way street – many families slide back below the poverty line because of factors such as ill-health, job loss and natural disasters.
This is the case even in countries where the economies are growing.
The authors of the report set out three policies for progress:
- Social assistance – to provide a safety net for the poor
- Huge investment in education – to improve the standard of living of the poorest
- Economic Growth which benefits the poorest – national prosperity for all