Table of Contents
Why are warmer countries poorer?
‘Hotter countries tend to have lower living standards. It’s all to do with extreme temperatures making it harder to get work done. About 2,000 years ago, a country’s wealth was strongly linked to how much food it could produce, whereas these days wealth is determined by industry and innovation.
Why are countries on the equator poor?
The reason to why a lot of poor countries are near the equator is because when countries further away from the equator have a more temperate climate and therefore have more fertile soil.
Why are some countries so hot?
Countries, towns and cities located around the equator experience hot weather throughout the year. It is because the sun remains almost directly overhead everyday. Countries that are further North or South of the equator experience a change in seasons, when hot weather follows cold weather.
In other words, those countries that are proactive in terms of ensuring that few families will fall below a minimum floor level, generally have much lower rates of poverty than those countries that take a more laissez-faire approach. Social policy can make a significant difference in reducing the extent of poverty across countries.
Is the United States at the high end of poverty?
Regardless of how poverty is measured, the United States is at the high end when it comes to poverty and inequality. Whether we look at children’s rates of poverty, poverty among working age adults, or poverty among single parent families, the story is the same.
How do social insurance programs prevent poverty in Europe?
In contrast, most European countries and Canada provide a wide range of social insurance programs that largely prevent families from falling into poverty. These include substantial family or children’s allowances, which are designed to transfer cash assistance to families with children.
How does climate change affect people’s lives?
Whether it comes in the form of unbearable heat waves, harsh winters or extreme weather events like the recent hurricanes in Puerto Rico and The Bahamas, climate change puts people’s lives at risk by undermining development and creating shortages of basic necessities, like food and water.