Discrimination against the poor has an impact on poverty at an international, national, and personal levels

The effect of aporophobia, and therefore the potential implications of this study, can be described at a macro-global, meso-national and micro-individual levels. From a macro-international perspective, the so-called “developing” countries are considered responsible for their fate, which contributes to the lack of action of global stakeholders towards an equilibrium in areas such as international commerce and financial markets (1). At a meso-national level, aporophobia hinders the effective approval and implementation of poverty reduction measures by governments when the poor are unfairly blamed for their fate and therefore considered not deserving help (2), (3), (4), (5). Finally, at a micro-personal level, the self-depreciation of the poor constitutes an additional obstacle to improve their economic situation (6). 

 

(1) Sampedro J. (1972), Conciencia del subdesarrollo. Salvat Editores. Alianza Editorial. 
(2) Applebaum LD (2001). The influence of perceived deservingness on policy decisions regarding aid to the poor. Political Psychology, 22. 
(3) Arneson RJ. (1997). Egalitarism and undeserving poor. Journal of Political Philosophy 5 : 327 – 350. 
(4) Everatt D. (2009). The undeserving poor: poverty and the politics of service delivery in the poorest nodes of South Africa. Politikon 35 : 293 – 319. 
(5) Nunn H, Biressi A. (2009). The undeserving poor. Soundings 41. 
(6) Taylor C (1931). Multiculturalism and «the politics of recognition». Princeton University Press.