Grasty Wooldridge*

ABSTRACT

Poverty and income inequality continue to represent major developmental challenges affecting societies across the world. Although economic growth has improved living standards in many countries, the benefits of development have not been equally distributed among populations. A considerable proportion of the global population still experiences poor access to healthcare, education, sanitation, housing, employment opportunities, and social protection systems. The persistence of poverty and widening income inequality have therefore become central issues in economic and social policy discussions [1]. Poverty is generally described as the inability of individuals or households to satisfy minimum basic needs required for a decent standard of living. These needs include adequate nutrition, shelter, education, healthcare, clean water, and access to economic opportunities. Poverty may exist in absolute or relative forms depending on the socioeconomic conditions of a country. Absolute poverty refers to severe deprivation of basic human needs, while relative poverty reflects unequal living standards within a society. Governments and international organizations frequently establish national poverty lines to determine the minimum level of income needed to sustain basic living conditions