There is a link between education and poverty. Poor education often means that people either have no work or poorly paid work. Poor education can also result in lack of information regarding, or access to, family planning such as the contraceptive pill; thus poor families may have a higher number of children.
In places such as the US where health care is linked to full-time employment, this results in substandard health care for a whole group of people, with a nock-on effect regarding education and employment. The lack of health care situation does not exist in countries which have a form of universal health care (e.g. Australia, New Zealand, Canada, or those in Western Europe). Some nations such as Germany and the UK have well established social welfare structures designed to prevent people falling below the established poverty line. Others, such as the US, do not have such structures and either cut, or end, welfare benefits after a period of time.
The recent credit crisis has increased poverty levels in industrialised nations. It began in the US when unscrupulous companies gave mortgages to people who could not really afford to pay. When the housing market stalled and declined, and properties fell in value, these people often went into negative equity and could not sell. Also, they lost jobs and were unable to pay. Often mortgage companies would offer a product at a low interest rate, which when went up significantly after 5 years or so. When US banks collapsed, it affected those in other countries due to finance being international.
Poverty in developing nations
It is widely accepted that Africa has the worst poverty in the world. Many nations have limited natural resources; some, such as those in the sub-Sahara, have none. Thus, the ability to generate wealth is severly limited. Famine, drought and other natural calamities have caused havoc with crops. Malnutrition has followed.
Corrupt regimes have often resulted in the wealth produced by a nation being pocketed by its rulers, and international aid going the same way.
Traditionally inequitable trading agreements between developing and developed nations have resulted in natural resources being stripped from certain African nations. Farmers have been paid a pittance for their work and their goods. This exacerbates poverty levels. The AIDS pandemic has ravaged many African nations, leaving countless children orphaned and the work force depleted.
In recent years, efforts have been made to redress trade agreements. Organisations such as the Fair Trade Movement (rapidly increasing in popularity in Europe) have resulted in farmers being paid a fairer price.