Is the Decline in Extreme Poverty the Greatest Achievement of the Past 50 Years?

Thanks to the efforts of donors, aid groups, and the economic development of countries like India and China, the number of people living in extreme poverty around the world has dropped significantly since 1980.

1 minute read

September 30, 2013, 2:00 PM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj

"For thousands of generations, a vast majority of humans have lived brief, illiterate lives marked by disease, disability and the loss of children," writes Nicholas D. Kristof. "As recently as 1980, a slight majority of people in the developing world lived in extreme poverty, defined as surviving on less than $1.25 in today’s money."

"Yet in a time of depressing news worldwide, about dysfunction and crisis from Syria to our own Congress, here’s one area of spectacular progress," he asserts. "The share of people in the developing world who live in extreme poverty has been reduced from 1 in 2 in 1980 to 1 in 5 today, according to the World Bank. Now the aim is to reduce that to almost zero by 2030."

FULL STORY: A Way of Life Is Ending. Thank Goodness.

Saturday, September 28, 2013 in The New York Times

Social / Demographics World Extreme Poverty

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Get 25% Off Your Subscription

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.