Research Reveals the Traits That Lead to Intractable Poverty Source: FAO Corporate Document Repository (Originated by: Economic and Social Development Department
- Intractable poverty is explained by a lack of knowledge and a lack of good skills in conjunction with laziness. These three things are widely given as the main cause of poverty.
- Intractable poverty is most notably caused by ‘laziness’ which is characterised by:
a) A low interest in a good life,
b) Passivity,
c) A lack of motivation and initiative,
d) A low intellect,
e) Dependency thinking,
f) Reliance on assistance from others,
g) Lack of life skills to plan and organise their life, h) Bad training and care of children by parents.
It was felt by some that laziness should be dealt with through education. The overall feeling was that these types of people are ‘no hopers’ and in need of some form of assistance to survive; they do not have the ability and life skills to manage alone.
Excerpt from He That Hath by Dag Heward Mills