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> Over the past decade, the scientific consensus has become clear: poverty perpetuates poverty, generation after generation, by acting on the brain. Is that tr

by Joeboy 11y ago

> Over the past decade, the scientific consensus has become clear: poverty perpetuates poverty, generation after generation, by acting on the brain. Is that true? It sounds rather controversial to me, but I am not a neuroeconomist. Edit: Although, I suppose that sentence makes no claim as to how large the effect is in relation to other systemic problems, so maybe it's not as bold a claim as I first thought.

zo1 11y ago
Well, I do believe we treat people in poverty (or poor people) differently than we do others. Both in our personal interactions with them, and how we deal with them as a social-group or problem (see, I myself used the term "deal with them"). The underlying theme that is quite pervasive in the media and through social programs: "If you are poor, you can not help yourself out of it, you need to be helped". I think that basic tone/message is a large contributing factor to perpetuating poverty, and conditioning them into not attempting to enact positive change in their own behavior.
kranner 11y ago
Book recommendation: Scarcity by Mullainathan and Shafir which discusses "scarcity traps" at length, esp. in the case of poverty, but also in other contexts (such as time scarcity for busy people, food scarcity for dieters, socialization scarcity for lonely people, etc.): http://www.amazon.com/Scarcity-Science-Having-Defines-Lives/dp/125005611X http://www.amazon.com/Scarcity-Science-Having-Defines-Lives/...
- Joeboy 11y ago
  It doesn't seem controversial that poverty can lead to worse education, negative behaviours and overall worse outcomes eg. due to things like stress, altered priorities, prejudice etc. The idea that this is because poor people sustain brain damage as children (or foetuses) is the bit I'm not sure about.
  - kranner 11y ago
    I think I misread your comment by skipping the effect-on-the-brain bit. The book is indeed about altered priorities and resultant behaviour due to scarcity, but it is a good read anyway.

by Joeboy 11y ago

zo1 11y ago

Well, I do believe we treat people in poverty (or poor people) differently than we do others. Both in our personal interactions with them, and how we deal with them as a social-group or problem (see, I myself used the term "deal with them"). The underlying theme that is quite pervasive in the media and through social programs: "If you are poor, you can not help yourself out of it, you need to be helped". I think that basic tone/message is a large contributing factor to perpetuating poverty, and conditioning them into not attempting to enact positive change in their own behavior.

kranner 11y ago

Book recommendation: Scarcity by Mullainathan and Shafir which discusses "scarcity traps" at length, esp. in the case of poverty, but also in other contexts (such as time scarcity for busy people, food scarcity for dieters, socialization scarcity for lonely people, etc.): http://www.amazon.com/Scarcity-Science-Having-Defines-Lives/dp/125005611X http://www.amazon.com/Scarcity-Science-Having-Defines-Lives/...

Joeboy 11y ago
It doesn't seem controversial that poverty can lead to worse education, negative behaviours and overall worse outcomes eg. due to things like stress, altered priorities, prejudice etc. The idea that this is because poor people sustain brain damage as children (or foetuses) is the bit I'm not sure about.
- kranner 11y ago
  I think I misread your comment by skipping the effect-on-the-brain bit. The book is indeed about altered priorities and resultant behaviour due to scarcity, but it is a good read anyway.