not only do the poor make affected decisions we also know that the poor (1) have a restricted set of feasible solutions (2) face higher uncertainty in outcomes

not only do the poor make affected decisions we also know that the poor (1) have a restricted set of feasible solutions (2) face higher uncertainty in outcomes due to the impaired ability to execute solutions (3) have limited ability to mitigate the consequences of a failed solution. in addition, public policy tends to strip the poor of their agency, not to mention dignity: (1) their choices are dictated without the context of their situation (2) the actual risks they face are ignored or treated as if a wealthier person were to face these risks (3) their actual utility curve is discarded in place of the utility curve of the policymaker or the general public... and then should the poor continue to fail to make full use of these programs that are not only difficult for the target group to take up, but also humiliating and undermining confidence in helping themselves, they are chided for continuing to make poor decisions. the article offers a few examples that overcame some problems affecting these people. but the story is very different between communities in which members are equally affected by limited resources and unequal communities. the separation of classes of people within a community with elevated inequality blinds the group to the myriad problems the poor face and leads to a caricature of the poor as incompetent - and it is this warped public perception and conversation that is holding back effective poverty programs.