The elimination of world poverty, along with such concerns as the protection of the biosphere and the maintenance of peace, is generally counted among the global challenges facing humankind in the twenty-first century. In the mainstream account, poverty is the state of individuals who lack sufficient money or material possessions required for a dignified life. It usually implies living under the constant threat of starvation, sickness, and social exclusion. Global poverty is intolerable for societies oriented toward the achievement of material affluence and freedom; its eradication is therefore an ethical imperative for world economic policy. The role of science and technology, however, is a contested terrain; whether they are part of the problem or the solution depends on how poverty is understood and acted upon.

Disputed Definitions

Global poverty, understood as a category that comprises nations with low income, is a statistical construct. It is based on the...