Question

Fred has been homeless for over 10 years due to a divorce and the loss of his job. He barely makes enough panhandling to eat once a day. Which of these best describes the type of poverty Fred is experiencing?

1) relative poverty
2) indolent poverty
3) absolute poverty
4) comparative poverty

Answer 1

Fred is experiencing 3) absolute poverty, as he is unable to afford even the basic necessity of adequate food, which is essential for survival.

Step-by-step explanation:

The situation described for Fred best matches the definition of absolute poverty. This is because he lacks the basic necessities required to sustain life, such as adequate food.

Absolute poverty is defined as a condition where individuals or families cannot afford or barely afford essential needs for survival, which drastically contrasts with relative poverty, where people may have the essentials but are unable to achieve the standard of living of the average person in their society.

Fred's condition of not making enough money even for one meal a day clearly indicates that he's experiencing absolute poverty.