| ty is an issue affecting countries in approximately two | | | | and life expectancy. In these areas |
| thirds of the world we live in, and with increased | | | | Venezuela’s progress stops, their infant |
| globalization it is a problem that has ramifications never | | | | mortality rate is below the regional average decreasing |
| felt before in the Western world. The question of how | | | | 17 percent since Chavez’s election, illiteracy is |
| to alleviate poverty and suffering in our world is one | | | | higher, as well as underweight births. The downfall of |
| that has plagued the minds of people for years; the | | | | Chavez’s program to eliminate poverty is that |
| simple answer provided by many is simply to increase | | | | aid is not given off the basis of need, and is not used |
| money, however does this increase really help alleviate | | | | as an incentive to better educate people but instead is |
| poverty or does it have the potential to make the | | | | a response to political loyalty. An effective way of |
| problem even worse? | | | | improving the well being of the poor in other countries |
| An article which appeared August 21, 2007 in the | | | | has been to link economic aid with useful actions such |
| International Herald Tribune entitled Managing | | | | as attending school or going to the doctor. Venezuela |
| Globalization: To reduce poverty, money isn’t | | | | rewards those who are loyal to Chavez. |
| everything by Daniel Altman addresses this issue by | | | | In contrast to Venezuela, Brazil’s success has |
| examining two South American countries Brazil and | | | | been wide spread. The country has attracted foreign |
| Venezuela. Incomes in both countries are rising but | | | | investment, lowered illiteracy, and increased life |
| poverty is only actually being alleviated in Brazil despite | | | | expectancy. Brazil has geared its monetary benefits |
| Hugo Chavez’s socialist platform and agenda | | | | for families and is linked to “actions such as |
| of equality for all. Incomes in Venezuela have been | | | | attendance in school, prenatal care, and childhood |
| rising due to the high price of oil of which they have an | | | | vaccinations”. Brazil’s incentive based aid |
| abundant supply whereas Brazil’s economy | | | | system not only help with immediate aid to the poor |
| has been rising due to “relatively firm economic | | | | but is contingent on the poor taking steps to better |
| policies” and “confidence in its business | | | | themselves so they will be better equipped to improve |
| prospects among both locals and foreigners” | | | | their situation. |
| (Managing Globalization by Altman). The poverty rate | | | | By looking at these two countries it becomes apparent |
| in Venezuela has been fluctuating since | | | | that in order for economic aid to be useful it must be |
| Chavez’s election from 50 percent when | | | | geared in such a way that it promotes the betterment |
| elected in 1999 to 60 percent in 2003 back down to | | | | of the people it is meant to help. The aid must not only |
| 40 percent in 2005. The figures follow the level of | | | | meet the immediate need but should be contingent |
| economic growth more closely than the level of | | | | upon helping the people receiving it improve them |
| investment by Chavez’s government. | | | | selves. Only through well thought out aid programs that |
| Furthermore many experts (UN Human Development | | | | encourage people to improve there own conditions |
| Index) measure poverty not just by purchasing power | | | | can we hope to make a significant dent in the poverty |
| but by other factors such as literacy, infant mortality, | | | | crisis affecting our world. |