ABSTRACT

The first of these argued according to a 'trickle up' theory that, by empowering the very poor, their health and wealth will improve and thus impact on the higher socioeconomic levels. This countered the dominant neoliberal/conservative view that the less that the upper social classes are restricted in their wealth-creation schemes, the greater will be a 'trickle-down' effect. This required a closer analysis of levels of poverty and led to the following two crucial distinctions:

• Absolute poverty - is the lowest amount of money required to purchase the amount of food necessary for a minimally adequate diet with just enough over to purchase other absolutely vital goods and services. This amount is usually referred to as the poverty line. The current international poverty line is US$1.00 per person per day at 1983 exchange rates-as adjusted for transnational purchasing power. The World Bank is the most prominent advocate of this measurement.