ABSTRACT

Socio-economic rights, such as the universal entitlement 'to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of oneself and one's family, including food, clothing, housing, and medical care' ,I are currently, and by far, the most frequently violated human rights. Their widespread violation also plays a decisive role in explaining global deficits in civil and political human rights demanding democracy, due process, and the rule of law: extremely poor people (often physically and mentally stunted due to malnutrition in infancy, illiterate due to lack of schooling, and much preoccupied with their family's survival) can cause little harm or benefit to the politicians and officials who rule them. Such rulers, therefore, have far less incentive to attend to the interests of the poor compared

with the interests of agents more capable of reciprocation, including foreign governments, companies, and tourists.