In the current essay we will discuss the fact that poverty causes crime.

Poverty is a
characteristic of the economic situation of the individual or social group in which they cannot
satisfy a certain range of the minimum requirements needed for life saving ability. Poverty is
a relative concept and depends on the overall standard of living in this society.

Poverty has become a great issue in our world. Though many organizations have been created
to find solutions for this matter nobody could not save our world completely from poverty.
The most common fact which we can realize when we consider on information about poverty
is that poverty is mostly occurring in developing countries.

What are the reasons caused for poverty mostly? According to the Borgen Project, reasons
for poverty are History, War and Political instability, National Debts, Discrimination and
social inequality and vulnerability to natural disasters. Poverty is the significant lack of
money or poorness. Precise definitions of poverty are controversial; according to one
definition, poverty is having so little money that one cannot pay for basic necessities, such as
food and shelter. Sociologists study the effects of poverty as well as who lives in poverty and
why. Many surveys have been done in order to calculate the accurate number of people who
are suffering from the poverty. According to the Global Finance Magazine poorest countries
in the world are Central African Republic, Congo, Dem.Rep, Malawi, Liberia, Burundi,
Niger, Mozambique and Eritrea. There are many organizations such as CARE, Oxfam, ONE,
The hunger Project working to stop poverty. Some of these are non-profit, strategic
organizations committed to the sustainable end of poverty and world hunger.

The World Bank data has published data on absolute poverty for 1981 onward, but
researchers have tried to reconstruct information of the living standards of the more distant
past. The most cited paper was written by Bourguignon and Morrison in which the two
authors reconstructed measures of poverty as far back as 1820. We can realize that the
number of poor people in the present has decreased little than the numbers in early ‘90.

What are the effects of poverty for our world? Do you know that over 21,000 children die
every day around the world due to illnesses, conflicts in the world and other different
reasons? Most of these are caused by poverty.

As a young student I would like to suggest some factors which would be helpful in our
journey to reduce poverty. Basically we have to take necessary steps to reduce the population
in our world. Natural resources don’t increase according to the population which is increasing
at a high speed. When we consider the families in poor countries, they have at least six or
seven kids. But those kids do not have a proper health or the parents cannot provide proper
education for them. And also those parents cannot provide good foods filled with suitable
nutrients to their kids due to lack of wealth. Because of that their healthiness decreases by a
considerable amount. The development of their brains becomes insufficient and due to that
their ability to get a proper education decreases.

So taking necessary steps to develop health and education sectors in these countries is a good
way to reduce poverty. So firstly we have to develop services for pregnant women of those
countries and provide them good foods filled with proper nutrients to keep the babies in good
health. And then the kids will be in good health and their brains will be in a better condition
to get a proper education. Developing the education sectors of those countries with the help
of charity services and the governments of developed countries is also a good step to develop
education systems in those countries. When we take a look at the situation of education in a
number of African countries affected by poverty we see: language barriers; a lack of proper
facilities; and military conflicts.

Increasing the number of organizations which are working to reduce poverty by educating
people of developed countries to be organized and to take actions related to this matter is also
another suggestion of mine. Encouraging people who have volunteered to provide facilities
such as pure water, foods filled with nutrients, living places to poor people and who’re
conducting charity services to develop the lives of them, by offering special rewards and
admiring them in various ways would be a good way to increase the number of voluntary
workers. So I believe my opinions and suggestions would be a good help to conclude
poverty.

According to experts, not getting decent wages for their work, young people gradually lose
the desire to marry, marry, have children - they are full of fear for tomorrow, not sure that
tomorrow they will not be fired because of another financial crisis. In addition, low wages
and lack of jobs, experts say, are pushing young people to commit crimes in order to get rich
quickly. It is, therefore, among criminals, increases the number of adolescents, aged 18 to 25
years.

Poverty is a consequence of diverse and interrelated reasons, which combine into the
following groups:

- economic (unemployment, low wages, low productivity, lack of competitiveness of the

industry);

- socio-medical (disability, old age, high levels of morbidity);

- Demographic (parent families, a large number of dependents in the family);

- socio-economic (low level of social guarantees);

- educational qualifications (a low level of education, lack of training);

- political (military conflict, forced migration);

- regional-geographic (uneven development of regions).

As well, current crisis makes people react and do something, even if it is illegal, they start
committing a crime. Poverty causes many crimes, as if a person was not poor and had faith in
himself, he would not face the thought that he should search another ways to get money.
Being poor, which could be caused by different reasons, makes a person unhappy, incapable
to earn enough money, to buy anything he wants or at least something necessary.

Poverty determines a certain stereotype in a person's thoughts, and he does not see any
constructive solving of the problem, as he wants to choose the easiest way of getting money,
even harming other people. Poverty has a huge psychological influence on people, who
become depressed, desperate and then they decide to commit a crime, as they have not found
anything that can legally get them out of such situation.
Too many problems that a person faces in the modern society makes him get angrier on the
whole situation and look for the new way of solving their problem. The desperate economical
situation in the country and consequently the lack of the work places especially for young
people creates the thoughts and actions of crime. No guarantees from the government and no
proper help to people who are poor, leads to the chaos and misunderstanding, where the only
way out they find is to commit a crime.

Poverty as a social phenomenon in a historical sense is of lasting value. The extent and depth
of "immersion" of the people in the country reflects two important aspects of society - the
level of development of productive forces and the corresponding character of their operation
principle of social justice.

Most often, poverty is treated as financial insecurity of people, when income of a person or
family does not allow maintaining socially necessary consumption for life, interfering with
normal living and personal development. Poverty serves as guidelines for shaping social
policy. This phenomenon is assessed by using indicators of absolute and relative poverty, its
depth and severity, as well as by the subjective perception of their individual well-being and
quality of life. To determine the effect of poverty on crime, there may be also another way:
by studying the living conditions of the poor and convicted before they commit crimes.

As a consequence of the fact that poverty causes crime, criminally distorted psychology of
society, values, personality as a direct cause of crime are expressed by more than just greed,
aggression, irresponsibility and neglect of criminal law prohibitions. It has several forms:
greed, greed, the cause component of the Organized Crime and Entrepreneurship, greed,
parasitism, generating professional and recidivism, greed, irresponsibility, have a "drunken"
crime, situational robbery and looting teens, when crimes are committed to meet the
immediate material needs , greed, poverty, which is based on physical survival. At a gain
now there is 80% of the totality of the causes of crime at this time. The main source of crime
in any society is the aggravation of his social contradictions. It is also defined as meaningful
and quantifiable features of the formation are within a specific time parameters. It is known
that the technologically advanced capitalist countries do not have the same crimes.

As a fact, crimes begin from the childhood. As a rule, if a child was born in a poor family,
there are more chances that he will start committing crimes. All over the world there is
propaganda of a luxurious way of life, of successful people, of expensive mansions, cars, of
beautiful journeys, etc. When children and adolescents see that and understand that parents
will not provide them with all these things, they start looking for the opportunity to get
money fast to buy at least something. And consequently they decide to commit a crime. The
crimes committed by adolescents are considered the cruelest. The majority of cases of all
crimes show that a driving force of the crimes is the money. The values of the society are
built the way that those people with the problems in their minds decide to bring closer all
these luxurious things.

One of the main aspects that can prevent poverty is education. If children are educated
properly, then they will perceive the reality as it is and they will try to succeed in legal ways
to study, to get a job. Sometimes, crimes are the symptom of the culture, and education can
cure the cultural poverty and financial poverty will be cured itself, as a consequence.

As a fact, not only poor people commit crimes, as there are also rich people who have no
boundaries in their actions and power and they also commit crimes to get more money and
power. Considering the statistics, the total number of the seven index crimes is reported to
police per 100,000 inhabitants in the United States. The research states that if to reduce
poverty, crime will be reduced, although with the crisis that has begun in 2008, there have
been registered less crimes, although there are more poor people because of the crisis. As an
example of it, in the first decade of the XXI century crime in the United States has tended to
decline. By the end of the decade, crime rates, according to many indicators, have fallen
dramatically, despite the economic crisis of 2008-2010. In some cities such as New York,
the crime rate has dropped to the record lows. With the onset of recession in the U.S., many
media outlets have expressed fears that the crisis (for example, increased unemployment and
reduced real incomes of people) will lead to a rapid increase in crime. FBI report shows that
these fears have not yet met.

Published in the 2008, the study of the Heritage Foundation showed that the relationship
between economic perturbations and crime exists, but it is not so clear. Thus, in the United
States there is a nation-wide crime statistics since 1934. During all this time only for 16
years the crime rate has declined. The crime rate has steadily increased from 1955 to 1972,
although this time the U.S. economy has experienced a rapid period of development, weak, a
recession occurs only in mid-1960. In turn, during the Great Depression - statistics was only
for the period from 1934 to 1938 - criminals showed less activity.

Central Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issued a preliminary report on crime rates in the U.S. in
2009. This statistics is based on data provided by about 17 thousand law enforcement
agencies of different jurisdictions. The main conclusions of the report - compared to 2008,
the number of property crimes in the U.S. decreased by 6.1%, violent crimes - by 4,4%.
According to the report, this year the number of murders in the U.S. fell by 10%, robberies -
on 6,5%, rape - by 3,3%. Among property crimes, the most significantly decreased the
number of thefts of cars (by 18,7%), theft (by 5,3%) and burglary (2.5%). The greatest
reductions in crime noted in cities with populations exceeding one million. In addition to FBI
statistics, the crime rate measures the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics by the Census Bureau
(study called National Crime Victimization Survey). Since 1973, there have been annually
polled 70-80 thousand of households (family or group of people living together and having a
total budget), to identify - about how many actually committed crimes Americans have not
informed the police. The last time similar research was conducted in 2008. It showed that
the victims of the criminals, Americans turn to law enforcement agencies do not always:
becoming the victims of violent crimes, they shall notify the police in 51,2% of the property -
in 39,6% of cases. Another important indicator for gauging the level of crime in the U.S. is a
traditional study conducted the service Gallup "Rating the perception of crime." Every year
Gallup asks Americans to estimate - increased or decreased the number of crimes in their area
and across the country.

In the recent years, such survey was conducted in September 2009. Then 74% of Americans
said that compared with last year the crime rate in the U.S. grew on 15% - reported that the
situation has improved. The rise in crime in their area was 51% decrease - 29%. As a fact,
12% of respondents said that the situation with crime in their place of residence was "very
serious"; the crime rate across the United States similarly estimated 55% of respondents. It is
curious that in the last decade, both of these indicators remain fairly stable, fluctuating
slightly.

As a rule, those countries where there is no proper economic regulations, there are more
chances that people will react negatively and commit more crimes, as the consequence of
unhappy life and no perspective in such countries. Although there is no proof of the direct
connection of the fact that poverty is the main motive to commit a crime, as there are many
factors present in the minds of people who in different situations can act differently. It is not
quite explicable that fact that while there is a depression and economical crisis all over the
world, people do not commit more crimes, as the statistics shows that people do not intend to
commit more crimes. The consequences and the logic of this fact are not fully
understandable. In the modern world everything changes so quickly that people get
accustomed to the situation, they learn the rules of the "game" and probably they try to find a
better way to earn money and succeed than to commit a crime. There can be also hope that
the more people get more education, the more they get knowledge, the better they understand
life and the rules to survive. The more people know, the better they understand the situations,
the values, the perspective, the more ideas they have, the more creative they are and the more
they feel capable to find a job and to succeed in life.

In poor countries such as Brazil and the countries of the former Soviet Union, there are
millions of poor people who do not have a way out because of the lack of any perspectives to
find a job, as the level of corruption is extremely high. In such countries it is especially
visible the difference and the gap between the extremely rich and very poor people. There are
almost no middle class people who have a job, a house and other benefits. That is why there
are almost no chances to combat it, as poor and desperate people in these countries do not see
any other opportunity except committing a crime. The obvious injustice and no social
guarantees make people feel as losers, who see the luxurious life and who cannot touch it. As
a fact, there is a lot of envy because of such a big gap and so much poverty.

Each country has its problems and level of poverty, but there is one main point- the lack of
money. If people had money at least for the basic needs, there would not be such level of
poverty. And as Aristotle said: "Poverty - a source of disturbance and crime", which means
that little problem becomes a huge problem if there is nothing useful done to prevent it. That
is why the right policy of the country will be able to eliminate poverty and along with that
there will be no crime in the future.

What factors specifically lead to poverty in the countries? This high level of unemployment,
a significant number of jobs that do not provide a living wage, as well as reducing the
number of social service costs. It can be emphasized that poverty reduction should not be a
charity event. It must go against strong social inequalities. The only way to do this is to
foster a society of equal opportunities. If we deal only with short-term problems in order to
achieve short term objectives rather than to focus on strategic issues of economic and social
development, we may miss the last chance to make the country the basis for a viable, long-
term development based on economic and social modernization.

So, the agenda should include the following vital issues:

- Reducing inequality and providing our citizens the opportunity to realize their constitutional
rights;

- Restoration of a common economic space;

- Infrastructure development through the joint efforts of government and the private sector
(roads, railways, ports, airports, bridges, power lines, electricity, etc.);
- The solution of demographic problems of the countries;

- The rise of living standards (including environmental problems);

- Eliminating unevenness in the level of regional development;

- Harmonization of interethnic relations in the country and the creation of normal living
conditions for the communities living outside of Russia;

- National security and territorial integrity;

- The safety of citizens;

As a fact, it is easier to prevent poverty than to deal with its consequences. The fact that
people commit crimes when they are poor does not justify them. But the government has to
take measures to prevent the poverty, there should be created more opportunities for people
to work, as keeping people busy can prevent crimes and even the thoughts of it. Proper
economical policy, positive changes in the social sphere, economical issues and employment
can guarantee the higher level of education and understanding the principles, which will
avoid the crime in the future. There should be also organized the certain campaigns aimed at
the reduction of poverty, as it in some cases causes crime.

Anyway, if the importance of money wan not so crucial these days, probable the majority of
people would not commit crimes. As it is very difficult to be different from everyone in the
society that value the materialistic ideas, the goods and products, it becomes a real challenge
not to have goals to buy, to own something. It happens because the society judges those who
are different, who has different vision, goals, principles and ideas. That is why people are
almost forced to do everything "the right way" to be as everyone else is, to work and to
succeed. And if there are no possibilities for that in the country, people start looking for
other, wrong ways to reach it anyway. They start looking for the easiest, quickest and lowest
ways to reach their goal, and that is why robberies, different violent crimes and thefts occur.
Some people after committing them feel "innocent", as they think that if the government did
not give certain things and possibilities to them, then they have the right to take things or
money from the richer people. Deceiving themselves, people live in their own world that is so
narrow, that allows them to commit a crime and to presume that no one will ever know.

As a fact, it is sad that a reality is that money takes a very important place in people's lives.
Everything people do to earn money sometimes in not enough, that is why arise different
problems which lead to the thoughts to commit a crime as that last opportunity. Everyone
wants to live worthily and this desire determines unexpected behavior. Often people want to
prove something to their friends, family, loved ones, but they do not manage to achieve it in a
legal way, choosing instead the lowest possible way to commit a crime, thinking that from
that moment on everything would change for the better.

It is obvious that money rules the world, which is why almost every crime is based on the
desire to get more money at any cost. Those who commit crime do not usually think about
consequences and they pay for everything they have done later. Sometimes people just lack
the patience and they want to have everything too soon without any considerable long time
efforts. Consequently, this practice does not work and people are forced to pay for everything
they have done. Psychological help and support in difficult situations can help and benefit
people to overcome difficulties, challenging times and other problems. Being open to
discussions, to new ideas, to new opportunities and options, people can stop thinking about
committing a crime because they are poor. The capacity to believe in yourself, in the future
possibilities and in the brighter future lacks in the minds of the people. It is surprising that
people commit crimes, as it is obvious that sooner or later they will pay for what they have
done and it is important to take control of the life. The mistake is that people sometimes
consider themselves cleverer than the others and think they are capable of changing they life
easily by harming someone else. This method, fortunately, does not work. Being realistic and
optimistic at the same time can save situation and turn life to the better.

All in all, only the right policies of the countries can solve this problem and make people
understand and see other right ways to earn money and to get out of poverty. People are
instruments in the hands of the government and they play by its rules. If there will be more
opportunities and proper social conditions for people to live and work, the crimes that are
caused by poverty will not take place anymore. A lot depends on the country people live in
and on the fact how they see their future, which possibilities and advantages they see and
want to implement in their life. Anyway, everything depends on a choice a person makes,
wherever he lives and whatever he has.