A recent report released by Mexico’s national statistics agency revealed that former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s welfare policies significantly reduced poverty. During his six-year term, the number of Mexicans living below the poverty line decreased by 13.4 million, a nearly 26% reduction, and extreme poverty also declined. These achievements were largely due to initiatives like increased minimum wage and cash transfers for the elderly and other vulnerable groups. However, the report also highlighted a substantial increase in the number of people without access to healthcare, indicating that despite progress, challenges remain.
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India’s extreme poverty rate dramatically decreased from 27.1% in 2011-12 to 5.3% in 2022-23, lifting approximately 269 million people out of extreme poverty. This reduction, based on World Bank data using a $3.00 per day poverty line, was widespread across rural and urban areas. States such as Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh significantly contributed to this decline. The substantial decrease is attributed, in part, to government initiatives like the PM Awas Yojana and Direct Benefit Transfer.
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Between 2011-12 and 2022-23, India significantly reduced extreme poverty, lifting 171 million people above the $2.15-a-day international poverty line. This dramatic decrease, impacting both rural and urban areas, saw India transition to lower-middle-income status. Five populous states drove much of this reduction, though poverty remains concentrated in these regions. Positive employment trends, including lower urban unemployment and increased female employment, are offset by high youth and graduate unemployment, along with a persistent gender gap in paid work.
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John Q. Hosedrinker