Consequences of Poverty in Afghanistan

Abstract

The state of abject poverty entails devastating consequences for the people living in it. The effects of poverty can vary in degree and type viz. social, economic, and political. In this chapter consequences of poverty are explored on employment, literacy, malnutrition, and health of the people of Afghanistan. Workers from the poor households ill afford to be unemployed and undertake work in underemployed jobs. The poor households tend to withdraw or prefer not to send their girls to the schools. Poor households, due to inadequate buying capacity, are forced to consume inadequate nutritional diet. Children from the poorest households tend to be more prone to underweight, stunting, and wasting. This may be leading to the vicious circle of poor nutrition status to poor health, poor productivity, low future earnings, and hence at a very high risk of falling into poverty in near future.