Endemic Poverty

ENDEMIC, AS A TERM, suggests nativity to a particular place or people. Endemic poverty is persistent long-term poverty of a particular people or region that may span not just many years but may extend over generations. This type of poverty may not be a consistent impoverishment, but may be characterized by periodic poverty and famine.

Long-term poverty affecting large populations has been a particular issue found in many developing and underdeveloped nations. Endemic poverty is particularly a concern, and is being addressed in various manners in many south Asian countries and in some parts of Africa.

The way poverty is measured is problematic, but caloric intake and undernutrition are good measures when examining endemic poverty. In particular, endemic poverty may be noted by cyclic periods of famine. The long-term impacts of undernutrition are particularly impactful for the young (including developing fetuses). Those who experience famine in their youth are more likely to have developmental problems, increased likelihood of disease throughout life, and increased likelihood of childhood mortality and shorter life spans.

Examinations of household income and other economic factors do not adequately examine the issues affiliated with long-term or regular periods of famine. Measures of economic conditions are especially problematic because the social infrastructure may strongly impact the lived experience of poverty, even in low-in-come regions. Some nations may be able to shift populations out of endemic poverty with less money than others depending upon the means in place to disperse food resources.

Many experts link endemic poverty to issues of fertility. In the short term, famine does result in decreased fertility; however, as food becomes more readily available there is often a rebound effect resulting in increased overall fertility. When examining cultures that have overcome the existence of endemic poverty, there has ultimately been a declining fertility rate that may have influenced the greater likelihood of amassing economic productivity. Endemic poverty, with its periodic famines, makes it difficult for societies to shift beyond this structure as improved food production and availability serve to feed those living in famine, who in turn may experience increased fertility, ultimately negating the increased food productivity resulting in cyclic famine.

[Page 309]Examined cross-culturally, there is tremendous diversity in the presence and experience of endemic poverty. Today in India estimates suggest that between 20 and 30 percent of rural households are experiencing endemic poverty. Endemic poverty is virtually nonexistent in most developed nations, such as in western Europe and the United States.