Final answer:
Neoconservatives often view poverty as a result of personal failings like laziness, whereas others point to systemic issues such as inefficient social services and economic structures favoring the wealthy. Policymakers who understand these systemic barriers support policies that help alleviate poverty. Conflict theorists suggest that capitalism creates wealth disparity and a self-perpetuating cycle of disadvantage.
Step-by-step explanation:
Neoconservatives might view the cause of poverty primarily as a result of individual failings such as laziness or the lack of ambition and personal responsibility. This perspective contrasts with other viewpoints that identify the root causes of poverty as systemic issues such as inefficient social services, or social, political, and economic structures that disproportionately favor the wealthy. Policymakers that acknowledge these systemic issues tend to support policies aimed at alleviating poverty by rectifying some of the system's inherent flaws, like increasing the minimum wage or extending unemployment compensation. They argue that people in poverty often need assistance not because of personal failings, but due to systemic barriers and setbacks.
Conflict theorists, on the other hand, view capitalists as those who benefit from a system where they can become wealthy while the workers stay relatively poor. According to this perspective, the capitalist system itself is structured in such a way that it creates wealth for a few at the expense of the many. This feeds into the cycle of poverty where the consequences of being poor (such as inadequate healthcare, limited education, etc.) further entrench individuals in poverty, creating a self-perpetuating cycle of disadvantage.
Most developed countries attempt to protect their citizens from absolute poverty through various social services and support systems that aim to provide a safety net and opportunities for people to escape poverty. Nevertheless, the rising number of young people growing up in poverty and the persistent cycle of disadvantage this engenders remains a major concern, suggesting that the protection offered is not sufficient to fully counteract the systemic issues at play.