Which term refers to being poor relative to others within the same society?

Which term refers to being poor relative to others within the same society?

• A. Relative poverty
• B. Poverty line
• C. Cycle of poverty
• D. Absolute poverty

Answer: (A)

Being poor relative to others within the same society is about poverty defined by social comparison, not a fixed survival threshold. It means someone has far fewer resources than the typical person in their country, which can limit participation in everyday life and social activities even if basic needs are met. This focus on inequality and social inclusion is what makes it relative poverty—the term best captures the idea of standing in relation to others in the same society. In contrast, a poverty line is just a fixed cutoff used to measure who is poor; absolute poverty describes not having enough to meet basic survival needs regardless of others; and the cycle of poverty refers to how poverty can persist across generations due to structural factors.

Being poor relative to others within the same society is about poverty defined by social comparison, not a fixed survival threshold. It means someone has far fewer resources than the typical person in their country, which can limit participation in everyday life and social activities even if basic needs are met. This focus on inequality and social inclusion is what makes it relative poverty—the term best captures the idea of standing in relation to others in the same society. In contrast, a poverty line is just a fixed cutoff used to measure who is poor; absolute poverty describes not having enough to meet basic survival needs regardless of others; and the cycle of poverty refers to how poverty can persist across generations due to structural factors.