John Kenneth Galbraith – The Position of Poverty

1) What is case poverty?

If we look at the dictionary definition of case poverty it states the following; “Focuses on individuals who, for some reason, are unable to support themselves and to gain the basic necessities without assistance” (Britannica). Galbraith seems to have a similar idea to this and describes it as the following. “Case poverty is restricted to an individual and his or her family and often seems to be caused by alcoholism, ignorance, mental deficiency, discrimination, or specific handicaps it is an individual and not a group” (Galbraith 404). I think that the people with problems and issues such as alcoholism and ignorance are the ones that are at a advantage compared to those who are handicapped and have metal deficiency. Meaning that handicaps can only try so much to get them self’s out of poverty but the fact is they can only do so much without support. On the other hand people with alcoholism and ignorance, etc. can get help which can possibly get rid of their illness for good. “Case poverty is commonly and properly to some characteristic of the individuals so afflicted. Nearly everyone else has mattered his or her environment; this proves that it is not intractable. But some quality peculiar to the individual or family involved in metal deficiency, bad health, inability to adapt to the discipline industrial life…” (Galbraith 407). Overall I think that people don’t want to be classified in this category of “case poverty”; they have just been forced to do so because of their deficiencies.


Works Sited

John Kenneth Galbraith. “The Position of Poverty” A World of Ideas: Essential Readings for College Writers. Ed. Lee A. Jacobus. 7th ed. New York: Bedford St. Martins,2006 pp 403- 413.