10 Facts about World Poverty That Will Shock You
3. Even in poor countries, the poor are getting richer
When China opened itself up to trade, it saw a dramatic alleviation of poverty. Since 1980, nearly 700 million Chinese have been lifted out of poverty, thanks to an increasingly liberalized trade policy. These policies have also bolstered the economies of surrounding areas, lifting nearly 300 million out of poverty outside of China. Though communism still exists in China, the people of that region are better off thanks to effects of world trade. Even undeveloped nations like India have seen the benefits of engaging in the world market. They have seen their poverty rates fall from around 60% in 1980, to around 25%. That is a remarkable change, and the trends continue to show optimism for the future.
