Totally a solved problem. Even in wealthy countries, the poor are often poor because many governments discourage savings (by lower interest rates into the base

Totally a solved problem. Even in wealthy countries, the poor are often poor because many governments discourage savings (by lower interest rates into the basement), discourage work (with high income taxes, welfare payments, unemployment insurance, food stamps, Medicaid). All of this fosters a culture where work is not seen as the vital thing that it is and where giving up is the easiest thing to do. Other policies are made to cater to the monied interests, at the expense of the non-monied, causing many things to be more expensive than they need to be. Housing, health care, education, transportation all fall into this category. All of these things should be getting cheaper over time, but once government establishes control, that control is inevitable hired out to the highest bidder and used to benefit them at the expense of the consumer. Of course, where there is no rule of law, the thugs just take everything as soon as you produce it, which is worse, I guess. But at least people who escape it often still have the work ethic necessary to succeed in a free society. That is, unless the government "helps" them.