Final answer:
Poverty can and does exist in authoritarian regimes due to the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few individuals or ruling elites.
Step-by-step explanation:
The false statement about poverty and authoritarianism is option 2) Poverty does not exist in authoritarian regimes due to their socialist nature.
Contrary to this statement, poverty can and does exist in authoritarian regimes. Authoritarian regimes do not guarantee economic equality or eliminate poverty. In fact, authoritarian regimes can exacerbate poverty and income inequality by concentrating wealth and power in the hands of a few individuals or ruling elites. Examples of authoritarian regimes with significant poverty rates include North Korea and Venezuela.