We're sunsetting PodQuest on 2025-07-28. Thank you for your support!
Export Podcast Subscriptions
cover of episode The Myth of the Poverty Trap

The Myth of the Poverty Trap

2025/5/13
logo of podcast Good on Paper

Good on Paper

Shownotes Transcript

In 1981, an estimated 44 percent of the global population lived in extreme poverty. In 2019, that number shrank to just 9 percent. We often think of poverty as a trap, but recent research shows it doesn’t have to be. The economist and co-founder of GiveDirectly, Paul Niehaus, explains how extreme poverty fell over the past 40 years and how it could be eliminated for good. 

Further reading: 

How Poverty Fell),” by Vincent Armentano, Paul Niehaus, and Tom Vogl 

How Progressives Froze the American Dream),” by Yoni Appelbaum

One Illness Away: Why People Become Poor and How They Escape Poverty), by Anirudh Krishna

Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Subscribe today at TheAtlantic.com/podsub).

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices)