According to official numbers, around 2,800 people fall into poverty EVERY DAY in Argentina (INDEC, 2022, “Informes técnicos / Vol. 6”, N° 60). As we know, the reasons are many, but the real impact that this situation produces in the lives of those people who cannot access basic needs is always the same: poverty threatens the rights and dignity of human beings.

In Argentina, the level of poverty has reached a point where not even having access to a job (whether formal or informal)prevents you from falling into conditions of poverty. According to official data from INDEC (National Institute of Statistics and Censuses of the Argentine Republic), in the second half of 2021 the average poverty in Argentina was 37%, which means that it reached a level of 10.8 million people (INDEC, 2022, “Informes técnicos / Vol. 6”, N° 60). Compared to the previous year, this represents a rise of 39%. As a consequence, there would be 500,000 more poor people in the first half of this year.

This problem is worsened by other national crises that contribute to this difficult situation: on the one hand, the government’s interest in creating jobs that allow citizens to get out of their current situation seems nil, additionally, the clientelism generated by perverse mechanisms such as excessive social assistance, motivates a culture and social perception in which work is not seen as a way to develop yourself human and professionally. 

At the same time, the economic instability generated by the high inflation produces an increase in  goods prices that translates into a decrease in real gross income. Speculation on the foreign exchange market also generates a social and media psychosis that ultimately ends up producing economic instability (and along with it the consequences that we previously mentioned). It is not surprising then, that the quality of life of the middle social class has deteriorated and therefore the  increase of  poverty levels.

The circumstances become even more worrying when we realize that this situation is far from being solved due to lack of political will (in addition to lack of a long-term economic plan). Political instability also produces an enormous danger that has to do with social unrest,  which endangers the democratic values ​​that should guide the political actions of our representatives.

Meanwhile, nothing takes our responsibility away. As citizens, we have to watch over and try to help those who cannot access basic goods and services that protect their dignity. In addition we must create the structural conditions to overcome this problem that affects the entire country.

Biography:

  • INDEC, 2022, Informes técnicos / Vol. 6, N° 60 – “Incidencia de la pobreza y la indigencia en 31 conglomerados urbanos”

https://www.indec.gob.ar/uploads/informesdeprensa/eph_pobreza_03_22F5E124A94B.pdf