Final answer:
Two characteristics that likely contribute to poverty are inadequate healthcare and limited education. These contribute to a cycle of disadvantage, which can be difficult to break, especially when considering the longer-term intergenerational effects of poverty and the inequities that arise, such as the high incidence of poverty among single mothers.
Step-by-step explanation:
Two characteristics that are likely to contribute to poverty are inadequate healthcare and limited education. Inadequate healthcare means that individuals do not receive the necessary medical attention and preventive care, leading to poor health and the inability to work or learn effectively. Limited education restricts individuals' knowledge and skills, which in turn limits their employment opportunities and the potential to earn a higher income. Both inadequate healthcare and education perpetuate a cycle of disadvantage, making it challenging for those born into these conditions to escape poverty.
Poverty is further exacerbated by rapid population growth in low-income nations and heavy reliance on agriculture, which are often coupled with high unemployment rates and severe inequality. Furthermore, intergenerational transmission of poverty means that without intervention, the cycle continues across generations, requiring improvements in human and physical capital to combat poverty in the long run.
Not promoting equality or working to reduce poverty can have both short- and long-term consequences. In the short term, individuals and families suffer from a lack of resources, while in the long term, poverty can lead to increased crime rates, social unrest, and the perpetuation of gender disparities. Women, particularly single mothers, are disproportionately affected by poverty, a phenomenon known as the "feminization of poverty."