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Reduce poverty

Figuring out how to give people enough, with the meta-problem

When fate takes a hand

Suppose you found yourself without enough resources to weather a storm. Maybe after a job loss, an illness, or a broken car. What do you hope would happen next?

Most people living in poverty today, at some point in the past experienced a bump in the road. Sometimes their biggest “mistake” was to be born into a family experiencing poverty, or to have the misfortune of poor health.

The question is which problem (or cluster of problems) we should choose to solve. Where will our efforts lead to the greatest reduction in poverty for our investment dollars?

The Meta-Problem Method is about choosing the best problem to solve, but only after you’ve defined the goals you care about, explored your many options, and weighed the trade-offs. To learn more about the Meta-Problem Method, click here.

A good start in life

Reducing poverty is at its core about creating a system in which people are supported when they need it.

By ensuring children start their lives well-fed and educated, we increase their life-long ability to contribute to the world.

In our modern world, individuals and societies with surplus resources could easily provide for the needs of the world while still having very comfortable lives themselves.

How much is enough?

While we have official benchmarks for poverty, there is not much discussion on the other side of the scales about what counts as too much.

What should rich individuals and countries give up to improve the lives of those in poverty? Should we only aspire to eliminate extreme poverty, or can the world’s rich support a higher standard of living for all? How should we choose?

Early action pays

The superhero Mr. Incredible complained “No matter how many times you save the world, it always manages to get back in jeopardy again. Sometimes I just want it to stay saved!”

Fighting poverty invites the same kind of frustration, as individuals and societies experience challenges and need extra support to recover.

Without a way to provide support in the moment, people often find themselves needing much more help over years or indefinitely.

See the examples below to learn how the Meta-Problem Method can help you
fight poverty!