EPIIC Symposium On Global Poverty And Inequality

Mass poverty is one of the world’s most pressing problems and daunting challenges. The compelling facts are well known: • Over one billion people – almost one in five – live in extreme poverty, subsisting on less than a dollar a day. • If the poverty line was raised to $2 a day, more than half of the world’s population would be living in poverty. • Over 100 million primary school-age children cannot afford to go to school. • Eight million people die each year simply because they lack the means to survive. • Over 11 million children die each year from preventable causes like malaria, diarrhea and pneumonia. • According to the 2001 US census, the wealthiest 20 percent of Americans accounted for more than 50 percent of the national income, while the poorest 20 percent accounted for 3.5 percent Much progress has been made over the last few decades. Global poverty is rapidly falling for about 80 percent of the world and the number of people living in extreme poverty has been cut in half. Yet, many challenges exist, from the expected rise in population in developing countries over the next four decades – representing 86 percent of the world’s population – to the anticipated, and unanticipated, consequences of global warming. Eschewing ideology, this year’s EPIIC colloquium will seek a nuanced understanding of the concepts and reality of global poverty. Is it possible to transcend the images of starving children, the stereotypes of ruthless corporations, and corrupt politicians, to explore a realistic agenda for alleviating poverty?