Final answer:
Two myths about poverty are that it is due to a lack of effort and that better economic policies alone could eliminate it. These myths ignore systemic barriers and other factors that contribute to poverty. Understanding the complexity and factors that lead to the poverty trap and economic inequality is key.
Step-by-step explanation:
Two common myths about poverty are first, that poverty is solely due to lack of effort or ambition, and second, that if it were not for poor economic policies, poverty would not exist. Against the first myth, it is important to understand that poverty often stems from systemic issues including lack of access to quality education, healthcare, and stable employment. These systemic barriers can create a poverty trap, where it becomes extremely difficult for individuals to escape poverty despite their efforts. Against the second myth, while economic policies indeed influence poverty rates, other factors such as illness, disability, and market changes also play significant roles. Economic inequality and poverty are not the same, although they are related. Wages are influenced by supply and demand in labor markets, which can result in low incomes for many despite working full-time jobs, and choosing a poverty line is always controversial as it fails to capture the complete picture of an individual's circumstances.