Poverty is not Permanent

Abstract

In Poverty is not Permanent, Anirudh Krishna and Dirk Philipsen challenge the conventional view of poverty as a static condition, arguing instead that it is a fluid state shaped by structural forces and individual circumstances. Drawing on research from diverse global contexts, they highlight how people frequently move in and out of poverty due to factors like illness, economic shocks, and policy decisions. They critique traditional poverty measures, which fail to capture this dynamic reality, and advocate for policies that address both the causes of downward mobility and the supports needed for sustained escape. Poverty, they argue, is not an inherent trait but a condition that societies can actively reshape.