poverty in haiti essay

• Share full article

Advertisement

A magnet for exploitation: Haiti over the centuries.

What often stands between Haiti and economic success is the rest of the world.

By Constant Méheut and Selam Gebrekidan

• Published July 7, 2021 Updated July 9, 2021

Haiti has been thwarted by outside interests from its very foundation as a country.

For decades, European powers, and later the United States, refused to recognize it as an independent republic.

The Caribbean nation became the world’s first Black-led republic when it declared its independence from France on New Year’s Day 1804. That day, Saint-Domingue, once France’s richest colony, known as the “Pearl of the Antilles,” became Haiti.

It was a land long coveted for its riches of sugar, coffee and cotton, brought to market by enslaved people. Its declaration of independence meant that, for the first time, a brutally enslaved people had wrenched their freedom from colonial masters. But it came only after decades of bloody war.

In 1825, more than two decades after independence, the king of France, Charles X, sent warships to the capital, Port-au-Prince, and forced Haiti to compensate former French colonists for their lost property.

Haiti, unable to pay the hefty sum, was forced into a debt that it had to shoulder for nearly a century. Throughout the 19th century, a period marked by political and economic instability, the country invested little in its infrastructure or education.

In 1915, U.S. troops invaded after a mob killed the Haitian president.

The United States later justified its occupation as an attempt to restore order and prevent what it said was a looming invasion by French or German forces. But U.S. troops reintroduced forced labor on road-construction projects and were later accused of extrajudicial killings.

The widely unpopular occupation ended in 1934, but U.S. control over Haiti’s finances lasted until 1947.

After a series of midcentury coups, the Duvalier family, father-and-son dictators, reigned over Haiti with brute force until the 1980s. Their regime plunged Haiti deeper into debt, and introduced the so-called Tontons Macoutes, an infamous secret police force that terrorized the country.

In the early 1990s, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, a former Roman Catholic priest, was elected president. He was then ousted twice from power over the next 15 years.

Haiti, with a population of 11 million, is considered the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.

In 2010, it suffered a devastating earthquake that claimed the lives of about 300,000 people. The country never really recovered, and it has remained mired in economic underdevelopment and insecurity. A cholera outbreak in 2016, linked to U.N. peacekeepers, killed at least 10,000 Haitians and sickened another 800,000.

Then early Wednesday, Jovenel Moïse, who became president in 2017, was assassinated at his residence.

Constant Méheut reports from France. He joined the Paris bureau in January 2020. More about Constant Méheut

Selam Gebrekidan is an investigative reporter for The New York Times based in London. She previously was a data and enterprise reporter for Reuters where she wrote about migration to Europe and the war in Yemen, among other stories. She has also covered U.S. oil markets. More about Selam Gebrekidan

• Understanding Poverty

Investing in People to Fight Poverty in Haiti

• This page in:

Key Messages

• Despite a slight decrease in overall extreme poverty in Haiti, the number of poor remains extremely high, especially in rural areas.
• Haiti is one of the most unequal countries in the world, in terms of both incomes and outcomes.
• To combat poverty and inequality in a sustainable way, policies should focus, alongside strong economic growth and better governance, on investing in people; boosting incomes and opportunities; and protecting the poor and vulnerable from shocks

Despite a decline in both monetary and multidimensional poverty rates since 2000, Haiti remains among the poorest and most unequal countries in Latin America. Two years after the 2010 earthquake, poverty was still high, particularly in rural areas. This report establishes that in 2012 more than one in two Haitians was poor, living on less than $2.41 a day, and one person in four was living below the national extreme poverty line of $1.23 a day.

Progress is evident, but much remains to be done. Extreme poverty declined from 31 to 24 percent between 2000 and 2012, and there have been some gains in access to education and sanitation, although access to basic services is generally low and is characterized by important inequalities. Urban areas have relatively fared better than rural areas, reflecting more non-agricultural employment opportunities, larger private transfers, more access to critical goods and services and narrowing inequality compared to rural areas.

Continued advances in reducing both extreme and moderate poverty will require greater, more broad-based growth, but also a concerted focus on increasing the capacity of the poor and vulnerable to accumulate assets, generate income, and better protect their livelihoods from shocks. Special attention should be given to vulnerable groups such as women and children and to rural areas, which are home to over half of the population and where extreme poverty persists, and income inequality is increasing.

Read the full report

• The Caribbean: Development news, research, data | World Bank
• Latin America and Caribbean
• Disaster Risk Management
• Inequality and Shared Prosperity
• Report (PDF)
• Press Release
• Feature Story: Extreme poverty drops in Haiti. Is it sustainable?

Fact Sheets

• Invest in people
• Improve health and education
• Increase urban and rural incomes
• Develop strategies for managing natural disaster risks
• Strengthen social protection programs
• Opinion: Haiti 2030: A Country Without Extreme Poverty
• Feature: Living Conditions in Haiti's Capital Improve, but Rural Communities Remain Very Poor
• Slideshow: Haiti: Life in the City vs Life in the Countryside

Poverty in Haiti

Essays on Underdevelopment and Post Disaster Prospects

• © 2011
• Mats Lundahl

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

5201 Accesses

9 Citations

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this book

• Available as EPUB and PDF
• Read on any device
• Instant download
• Own it forever
• Compact, lightweight edition
• Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
• Free shipping worldwide - see info
• Durable hardcover edition

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access

Licence this eBook for your library

Institutional subscriptions

Table of contents (13 chapters)

Front matter, five decisive events in the economic history of haiti, economic interests are color-blind: on class divisions in haitian history, poorest in the caribbean: haiti in the twentieth century, contemporary problems, economic and political forces in haitian underdevelopment, the haitian dilemma reexamined: lessons from the past in the light of some new economic theory, income and land distribution in haiti: some remarks on available statistics, some economic determinants of haitian migration to the dominican republic, the failed transition, another failed american occupation, from kleptocracy to democracy, problems of policy reform in the haitian economy, sustained growth in haiti: pipe-dream or realistic possibility, a future for haiti, hating the united states does not help haiti, after the earthquake: what future for haiti, back matter.

• development
• economic growth

About this book

About the author, bibliographic information.

Book Title : Poverty in Haiti

Book Subtitle : Essays on Underdevelopment and Post Disaster Prospects

Authors : Mats Lundahl

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230304932

Publisher : Palgrave Macmillan London

eBook Packages : Palgrave Economics & Finance Collection , Economics and Finance (R0)

Copyright Information : Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited 2011

Hardcover ISBN : 978-0-230-28941-3 Published: 24 November 2010

Softcover ISBN : 978-1-349-33092-8 Published: 01 January 2011

eBook ISBN : 978-0-230-30493-2 Published: 24 November 2010

Edition Number : 1

Number of Pages : XIX, 282

Topics : Economic Policy , Development Economics , Regional/Spatial Science , Urban Economics , Development Studies , International Political Economy

• Publish with us

Policies and ethics

• Find a journal
• Track your research

Home — Essay Samples — Geography & Travel — Haiti — Haiti’s Development Issues With Overpopulation And Poverty

Haiti’s Development Issues with Overpopulation and Poverty

• Categories: Haiti Overpopulation

About this sample

Words: 4314 |

22 min read

Published: Dec 16, 2021

Words: 4314 | Pages: 9 | 22 min read

Table of contents

Introduction, literature review and course reading.

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Prof Ernest (PhD)

Verified writer

• Expert in: Geography & Travel Social Issues

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

1 pages / 638 words

2 pages / 999 words

2 pages / 851 words

2 pages / 740 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Haiti

Media has played a significant role in shaping public perceptions of different countries and cultures. Unfortunately, many of these portrayals are rife with stereotypes and misinformation. One such country that has been [...]

Haiti, a small Caribbean nation with a rich cultural heritage and a history of resilience, is a place that holds a special significance in my life. Growing up in Haiti has shaped my perspective on the world and has influenced my [...]

Henochsberg, S. (2016). Public debt and slavery: the case of Haiti (1760-1915). Paris School of Economics.Jones, B. (2011). Explaining Global Poverty: A Realist Critique of the Orthodox Approach. Alethia, 4(1): 2-10, doi: [...]

The Haiti earthquake caused many geomorphic changes to the city of Haiti. The earthquake itself caused many ruptures in the ground, produce a possible chance for future pothole to occur. Once the tsunami hit the land, it [...]

Cholera is an acute diarrheal disease caused by Vibrio Cholerae bacterium, transmitted via ingestion of contaminated water or food. Worldwide it is estimated to each year cause between 1, 3 to 4 million cases, and between 21000 [...]

Tony Montana escaped Cuba to achieve the American Dream. But his idea of the American Dream is vastly different from majority of other immigrants. The film has many instances of strain theory. Strain theory was brought about by [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

(Stanford users can avoid this Captcha by logging in.)

• Send to text email RefWorks EndNote printer

Poverty in Haiti : essays on underdevelopment and post disaster prospects

Available online, at the library.

Green Library

More options.

• Find it at other libraries via WorldCat
• Contributors

Description

Creators/contributors, contents/summary.

• Preface Prologue: Will Haiti Rise from the Ashes? PART I: HISTORY Five Decisive Events in the Economic History of Haiti Economic Interests Are Color-Blind: On Class Divisions in Haitian History Poorest in the Caribbean: Haiti in the Twentieth Century PART II: CONTEMPORARY PROBLEMS Economic and Political Forces in Haitian Underdevelopment The Haitian Dilemma Reexamined: Lessons from the Past in the Light of Some New Economic Theory Income and Land Distribution in Haiti: Some Remarks on Available Statistics Some Economic Determinants of Haitian Migration to the Dominican Republic PART III: THE FAILED TRANSITION Another Failed American Occupation? From Kleptocracy to Democracy? Problems of Policy Reform in the Haitian Economy Sustained Growth in Haiti: Pipe-Dream or Realistic Possibility? PART IV: A FUTURE FOR HAITI? Hating the US Does Not Help Haiti After the Earthquake: What Future for Haiti?
• (source: Nielsen Book Data)

Bibliographic information

Acquired with support from.

The Jay Fund

Browse related items

• Stanford Home
• Maps & Directions
• Search Stanford
• Emergency Info
• Terms of Use
• Non-Discrimination
• Accessibility

© Stanford University , Stanford , California 94305 .

• roasted coffee
• coffee subscriptions
• raw/green coffee
• dark chocolate, hot cocoa
• bulk roasted nibs
• raw cacao beans
• ALL metal art, uncategorized
• Christmas, religious art
• Love / Valentine
• uniquely Haiti
• birds & wildlife
• trees of life
• food & art gift bundles
• original, unique sculptures
• Haitian paintings
• life changing gifts
• Overview, FAQ – U.S.
• Travel Haiti’s Coffee Lands
• Wholesale & Retail Coffee in Haiti
• Tour Coffee Roastery
• Contact Singing Rooster
• What’s NEWs at the Rooster
• About Singing Rooster
• Media, Press Kit

Singing Rooster News

Why is haiti so poor hope amidst misery.

Reasons Why / Causes for Haiti’s Poverty are Complex

The following essay was written by Bob Corbett, a longtime advocate for this sovereign island nation; Bob gave Singing Rooster permission to put his essay on our site. Bob wrote this essay in 1986 — and EVERYTHING he said then still stands. It’s a thorough walk-through describing why Haiti is so poor – give this time. Then go buy some Haitian coffee or chocolate bars — we’re the farmer’s partner and know Haiti’s self sustainability rests with supporting small producers. It also rests with re-vamping Haiti’s schools around urban / community gardens (we provide a link below to invaluable resources for this).

Another long-time supporter of Singing Rooster, Dr. Alyssa Goldstein Sepinwall, has published a more comprehensive book on Haiti: Haitian History: New Perspectives — an excellent compilation of articles. Plus, it takes readers into the impact of Haiti’s 2010 devastating earthquake.

Bob’s essay will get the reader interested & Alyssa’s book will provide a broad and sophisticated interpretation of Haitian history — well beyond the scope of our website.

Backstories, present day stats provided by Singing Rooster in orange. And now — Bob’s essay:

What Contributes to Haiti’s Poverty?

Haiti’s poverty is difficult to understand, especially for those living in a country as rich as the United States. There are some obvious conditions: the long history of political oppression, soil erosion, lack of knowledge and literacy, a large populace in a small country. But a question of CAUSES for such poverty is complex. This issue is difficult. I urge you to stick with it, to wade through. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere for a reason. The Haitian masses suffer debilitating and depressing misery. Yet, virtually all that misery is caused by a tiny minority inside and outside Haiti who have wealth and power to change it.

HOPE AMIDST MISERY

The story of Haiti is heavy and depressing. Yet I see hope too. To know the causes of Haitian poverty is to clarify the problem. It helps people to know where to focus our energies, work and wealth in attempting to lessen this misery. Not only is this a difficult issue, but a controversial one. I’ve tried to reflect various thrusts of the argument. But, ultimately I’ve had to decide where the evidence seemed strongest. I’m sure some will disagree and do so with vehemence.

I. Root Causes of Haitian Poverty – why is Haiti so Poor?

The ultimate causes of Haiti’s misery are human. They are rooted in greed and power. Both the international community and Haiti’s rulers have continuously assured the destruction of Haiti’s colonial wealth and the creation and continuance of her misery.

• French colonial
• The international boycott of the new nation of 1804
• The French debt of 1838
• The United States Occupation 1915-1934
• Post World War II United States domination
• Slave-like labor systems in the early republic
• The elite’s protection of its wealth
• Haitian corruption
• Human rights violations as a tool of oppression

II. Secondary Causes of Haitian Poverty

The international and national political climate of Haiti has assured her misery. But, little by little these forces have caused other factors to emerge that assure the continuance of Haitian misery even if Haiti were to secure good local government free from international intervention. (An unlikely prospect.) Some of the most noticeable secondary causes of Haiti’s poverty are:

• Language as an oppressor
• Ignorance and illiteracy
• The system of education (or mis-education)
• Soil erosion
• Export crops vs. local food crops (over 60% of Haiti’s food is IMPORTED)
• The lack of infrastructure: inadequate roads, water systems, sewage, medical, schools
• Unemployment and underemployment
• Underdevelopment in an age of international economic competition
• Haitian self-image

III. A MYTH & TWO PUZZLES that Cause Haiti’s Poverty

As well as arguing why Haiti is so poor, I address two factors which are often claimed to be causes of Haitian poverty. One category I will call MYTH. The contention that the Voodoo religion is a serious factor in causing the misery of Haiti is a myth, and an exceptionally pernicious myth at that.

The second category I term PUZZLES. These are areas which are not clear to me. They may or may not be causes of misery. In this section I will try to point out the complexities of two cases: foreign investment in manufacturing and overpopulation.

HAITI: THE JEWEL OF THE ANTILLES

[Backstory: Before Europeans arrived, pillaged, and killed off the natives, Hispaniola was an island of splendid rain forests and fertile plains. Native Caribeans inhabited and cultivated the island for centuries before Columbus arrived in 1492.

The Spanish, and soon after, the French, saw a land of opportunity. Spain and France divided Hispaniola in 1697 where the western 1/3 of the island became Haiti, ruled by the French and the other side ruled by Spain – present day Dominican Republic. The native population was decimated through warfare, slave labor, and European disease. Because the native population was largely killed, people were kidnapped by the hundreds of thousands from Africa and shipped to the island for slave labor. Some believe it was the world’s taste for coffee that lead to massive slave labor in Haiti.]

Haiti, once called The Jewel of the Antilles, was the richest colony in the world. In the 1750s, Haiti provided as much as 50% of the GNP of France. The French imported sugar, coffee, cocoa, tobacco, cotton, indigo and other exotic goods. In France products were refined, packaged and sold all over Europe. Incredible fortunes were made from this tiny colony on the island of Hispaniola. How could Haiti have once been the source of such wealth and today be the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere? How could this land that was once so productive be semi-barren? How did “The Jewel of the Antilles” become a place where women and children sleep in fear?

ROOT CAUSES of Haiti’s Misery: A. INTERNATIONAL FORCES

• INTERNATIONAL BOYCOTT OF THE NEW COUNTRY : Why is Haiti Poor? After the revolution in 1804 , Haiti became the first black republic. However, the United States was still a slave nation, as was England. While France had freed the Haitian slaves during the revolution, France and other European nations had slaves in Africa and Asia. The international community decided that Haiti’s model of a nation of freed slaves was a dangerous precedent. An international boycott of Haitian goods and commerce plunged the Haitian economy into chaos. It is difficult to measure the exact impact of this international conspiracy. Here was a nation of ex-slaves trying to rise to democratic self-rule, rising to run an economy in which the masses had only served as slaves. The international boycott of Haitian products at this time was devastating for Haiti’s long-term economic development.

• UNITED STATES OCCUPATION OF 1915-1934 Perhaps the most serious blow to Haitian independence and self-image was the occupation of the United States Marines in 1915. The marines took over control of the collection of revenues, the banks, and forced through a new “Haitian” constitution which repealed the 1804 provision that foreigners could never own land in Haiti. The U.S. decided who would and would not be government servants. The only factor of Haitian life which seemed to escape U.S. domination was education. The elite’s identification with French culture was too strong for even the marines to overcome and the schools remained French in language and structure.
• POST WORLD WAR II UNITED STATES DOMINATION The occupation ended in 1934. However, the U.S. presence in both the economy and internal government affairs was well established. Ever since the occupation and increasingly since 1946, the United States, through the power of its aid packages, has played a central role in Haitian politics. In this way the U.S. has contributed to the misery of Haiti since it has given oppressive governments comfortable aid packages which kept these rulers in power. The United States was not interested in furthering Haitian misery itself, rather this is the price the U.S. has had to pay to keep friendly governments in power so that American military, propaganda and economic interests could be served. The result may well have served the interests of U.S. control in the region, but the issue here is the cause of Haitian misery. U.S. backed governments have certainly been a major factor in this suffering.

ROOT CAUSES of Why Haiti is so Poor? B. HAITIAN ELITE

The international community has done and continues to do its share in causing Haitian misery. But the contribution of the Haitian elite and Haitian governments has been and continues to be a root cause of suffering.

• The price the Haitian masses have paid for their freedom has been to live at or below subsistence, remaining in tiny huts and non-fertile mountain regions in order to have peace and freedom from oppression.
• For nearly two centuries they have sub-divided their small plots among generations of descendants until the plots of land are tiny and unproductive.

• HAITIAN CORRUPTION  Corruption is common in all governments, especially in highly authoritarian regimes, and practiced beyond measure in Haiti. The elite have used their positions since 1804 to gather wealth and power. Foreign governments and humanitarian and religious organizations have attempted to aid the suffering people of Haiti. Time and again, over and over in the 182 years of so-called freedom, the Haitian elite and government officials have sidetracked much of this wealth for their own purpose. Haiti faces the difficult task of dealing with corruption that is so established, so all-persuasive as to be an accepted social practice. After an armed rebellion led to the forced resignation and exile of President Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE in February 2004, an interim government took office to organize new elections under the auspices of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). Continued violence and technical delays prompted repeated postponements, but Haiti finally inaugurated a democratically elected president and parliament in May of 2006. Many thought Haiti was positioned for major changes for the first time in history; January 12, 2010 changed that.
• HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AS A TOOL OF OPPRESSION  One would never expect that the Haitian masses would have sat placidly by and allowed such a tiny elite to inflict the conditions of misery on them. Indeed, the people did not sit willingly by. The history of Haiti from early colonial days to present is one of constant resistance, constant rebellion. But the elite have been equal to the challenge. For 182 years, Haitian rulers have used terror, killings, beatings, illegal arrests and detentions, and forced exile to keep masses in line.

SUMMARY OF ROOTS CAUSES for Haiti’s Poverty

Poverty and misery in Haiti are human created. The root causes are the political and economic systems which have dominated Haiti for over 182 years. These oppressive factors come from the international community, especially France and the United States. However, the Haitian elite, comprising only 3% of Haitians has been a major factor in creating and continuing these oppressive conditions.

Causal roots are not visible. Rather, they are the basis of the more visible and immediate factors. Even the overt human rights abuses are not visible on a daily basis. However, the Duvalier years were especially bad. Tens of thousands of people died or disappeared. Hundreds of thousands more felt forced to flee their homeland and seek a safer life elsewhere. Nearly everyone in the country felt the terror of the Duvaliers and their Tonton Macoute [government-sponsored thugs who beat or killed for dominance].

SECONDARY, BUT MORE IMMEDIATE CAUSES OF HAITI’S POVERTY

• LANGUAGE AS AN OPPRESSOR Perhaps the oddest cause of poverty is imposing the French language on Haitians. French is the official language of the country. All state business is carried on in French, the schools educate mainly in French. Social prestige is related to the ability to speak French. Yet only about 10% of the people can even get along in French, with less than 5% knowing the language fluently. Creole is the language of the masses. 100% of the Haitians speak and understand Creole as their mother tongue. The road to social, economic and intellectual development is reserved French speakers. Creole is not a patois or dialect of French. It is a recognized language in its own right, with its own syntax which is significantly different from French. The Creole grammar is rooted in Central African languages, though most of its vocabulary is influenced by French.

• After the fifth year, students must pass a difficult examination, the “sertifica” in order to continue. This examination is in French. Few children of the peasant masses pass this examination.
• Teachers are poorly prepared. Materials are inadequate. In rural schools, it is common that only teachers have books. Rote learning is the common, even in schools in the capital. Students are taught to parrot teachers. They learn little beyond the immediate textbook.

• EXPORT CROPS VS. LOCAL FOOD PRODUCTION  The largest portions of Haiti’s best lands produce crops for export. Sugar cane is the dominant crop, but tropical fruit and other crops are grown as well. With most of the very best land out of production for local food crops (beans, rice and corn), the masses do not have access to land to grow food for eating or selling on local markets. Ironically, Haiti, a primarily agricultural land, is a net importer of food. Because land is controlled by the elite of Haiti, cash goes to these owner who spend their money in the United States and Europe. Not even a trickle down effect is felt from this flow of cash. Further, farm wages are among the lowest in Haiti. Cane cutters spend days in back-breaking work to cut a ton of sugar cane earning a $1.00 a day OR LESS! Imported food is expensive and can’t be afforded. Now add in this: over 60% of Haiti’s food is imported. This alone is a huge factor in: Why is Haiti so Poor?

• UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT  Masses of people have no work, or work for pay which cannot come close to providing a living wage. Because of soil erosion and structure of agriculture, thousands pour into Port-au-Prince looking for work. Most of them have heard of a friend’s friend or an uncle’s cousin said to have found work in the tourist industry or manufacturing sector. But there are few jobs, and the slums grow. These unemployed masses put increasing pressure on the already inadequate city infrastructure. The problems of unemployment and underemployment are caused in large measure by the lack of an adequate infrastructure and the domination of all wealth by the few. The political instability of the present moment does not help. Members of the Haitian elite and foreign investors are leery of investing in Haiti since no one knows where the government will move.
• UNDERDEVELOPMENT IN AN AGE OF INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC COMPETITION  Today’s world economy is international. Competition is bitter and severe. But this is a competition of the strong fighting the strong for a piece of the market. Haiti is in a disadvantageous position. Haiti is undeveloped. It is not even a developing nation. The economic structure of Haiti has deteriorated in 29 years of Duvalier rule. Haiti cannot compete. It’s a case of being hopelessly behind in a long distance race of superstars. Instead of catching up, Haiti falls farther and farther behind.
• HAITIAN SELF-IMAGE My own experience has been that Haitian people suffer from a self-defeating image. They know they are poor in a rich world. They have heard that they are ignorant and illiterate. They speak Creole and are told that this is not a “real” language. They experience their own powerlessness and are told it is their own fault. Such a self-image creates its own cycle of misery.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS on Haiti’s Poverty

I have painted a grim picture on why is Haiti so poor. The causes are many and varied. Most of them are stubbornly resistant to change or amelioration. Many of the woes are beyond Haiti’s capacity to cure even if a just government and economic order were to appear, which, of course, is unlikely.

THE MYTH THAT VOODOO RELIGION CAUSES HAITI’S MISERY

Haiti suffers many ills which I’ve tried to catalog. Ironically, Voodoo is blamed as a major cause of misery. It is a complete myth. Voodoo in no serious way causes Haiti’s misery. Instead, this myth draws energy from more useful tasks. Some missionaries claim Voodoo is some sort of satanic worship and thus Haiti’s suffering is caused by a combination of divine punishment and the ineptness of satanic powers.

The claim that Voodoo is a satanic worship is mistaken. Voodoo is an African family-spirit religion. The spirits (not gods, but spirits –sort of like angels in Christianity) are invoked for moral advice and guidance with daily affairs. Additionally, Voodoo is a healing religion. Much of this healing is effective for local health problems. In general my strong impression is that people are very pragmatic about their healing. If a houngon or mambo (priest or priestess) heals, then people will use them again, otherwise not.

I don’t want to paint a romanticized picture. There is widespread use of healing practices which go beyond the houngon and mambo’s abilities. Wherever this occurs it should be combated as poor healing practice. Similarly, the Haitians have added a new rite to African Voodoo. This is the petro rite, a black magic rite which includes such exotic and socially damaging practices as death curses and the creation of zombies. There is no question that these practices are harmful, but they account for no more than 5% of Voodoo practice.

I have no personal stake in defending Voodoo. But, it is factually wrong to blame Voodoo’s excesses for seriously contributing to Haiti’s misery. The reason that this is such an important issue is tied to the question of Haitian self-image and the rights of the Haitian people to their own culture. The problem is not Voodoo, but some excesses and superstitions in an otherwise legitimate religion. More importantly, it is the religion of Haiti’s people.

My suspicion is that the criticism of Voodoo is not really because of its alleged harm, but because it is not the religion of Western missionaries. Christianity was riddled with superstition. Medieval Christianity was purged of its worst superstitions, and the religion survived. This is the need in Voodoo.

TWO PUZZLES

Puzzle #1: foreign investment in manufacturing.

[In 2010, Bill Clinton’s post earthquake call for clothing factories for PaP makes this part of the article, written in 1986, amazingly pertinent:] Haiti needs jobs. Hundred of thousands of people are unemployed in Port-au-Prince or can only find part-time work. American manufacturing operations in the 1970’s were thought be a boon to Haiti, but the case is not clear.

On the positive side, 350,000 jobs were created. However, the national minimum wage was $2.60 per day. Most companies evaded this pittance by shifting their pay system to piece work so that the typical wage was closer to $2.

Until the fall of Duvalier, labor unions and labor activity were illegal. Even now, few people know what a labor union is and the government continues to harass labor activity. Additionally, the press of the hundreds of thousands who have no work, and who would very much like even these $2 a day jobs, keeps workers disciplined not to rock the boat.

The $2 a day actual wage is nearly double the $1.00 typically earned in the agricultural sector. However, the American firms who own and run these plants earn fantastic rates of return.

Are these plants a way out of Haitian poverty? Yes and no. Immediately, they do employ the unemployed and that is a positive factor. But, the non-living wage which is paid insures people will not rise out of squalor.

This situation is like the early Industrial Revolution in the United States and England where workers fought long battles to get a fairer portion of the wealth their own labor created. The Haitian fight is hampered by many factors which were not as limiting in the United States–the high level of illiteracy, severe government oppression, more competition for jobs, etc.

So, I find this new development in Haiti to be a puzzle. Does it help or hinder Haitians? I don’t know. With just reforms this manufacturing sector could profit both Haiti and foreign investors. At present some Haitians do survive because of these jobs, and fortunes are made by investors.

PUZZLE #2: OVERPOPULATION & it’s impact on : Why is Haiti so Poor?

Haiti is a small country, about the size of Maryland. [In 2010 Haiti has about 9 million people.] The soil erosion, inability to compete internationally, backward agricultural technology and other factors make it impossible to support its population.

The overwhelming portions of the best Haitian lands are used to grow export crops for North America and Europe. This production benefits only a handful of Haitian elite. If this land were returned to the Haitian people and used for local food, Haiti would have no difficulty in providing a sound diet for all.

Even minimal improvements in agricultural technology (wider use of oxen and plow, for example), or improved understanding of agricultural problems (stronger national help in fighting soil erosion) and the land that is in production of local food crops could be more productive.

Since hunger is caused by the present social system, it would seem that it is not overpopulation which causes the crisis in Haiti. But this view is shortsighted. A reformed use and understanding of agriculture (both highly unlikely) would make it possible for Haiti to feed its present and expected population. But, eventually, Haiti will face a population crisis. Certainly by 2025, Haiti’s present 2.2% growth rate will make it incapable of feeding her people in the best of circumstances.

There are population control programs throughout Haiti. But they don’t work. Much research shows that moral preaching, sex education, contraception and even force do little to reduce populations in poor nations. This is because people NEED lots of children:

• As workers in fields (hey, don’t judge this… it’s what Americans did for decades)
• As old age insurance for parents who have no other security
• In a life of low material gratification, raising children is among the few joys and delights
• Because of high children mortality, people have many children so that enough will survive to accomplish 1-2-3

Sociologists know that economic development can effectively lower birthrates, and that providing old age security and some level of material comfort, lead people to voluntarily limit birthrates. Such a rise in material standard is also accompanied by higher levels of education, which further contributes to voluntary birthrate limits.

Is it really overpopulation which causes Haiti’s misery, or is the overpopulation another result of Haiti’s misery? It’s not clear. With more humane social planning, including access to birth control and family planning, Haiti could provide for its people NOW. But what about in a few years? Population is a puzzle.

Where Does Haiti Go from Here? Solutions to Haiti’s Poverty

There are many groups in Haiti trying to assist Haitians out of poverty. Many are and will remain in-effective because they don’t focus on food. When Haitians are able to feed themselves (they currently import over 60% of its food), several things will happen for the better. We are firm believers that in supporting Haiti’s current farmers while building future ones & simultaneioulsy centering schools around agriculture is the best way for helping Haiti out of poverty for the long term. We provide details here: solutions for Haiti’s poverty: support farmers and create an army of backyard gardeners . We can help you become an activist: Start by learning how Singing Rooster is building rural economies . Then pledge to put # haitiancoffee on the table every morning because #yourcupmatters.

Home / Essay Samples / World / Haiti / The Issue Of Poverty In Haiti And Its Causes

The Issue Of Poverty In Haiti And Its Causes

• Category: World , Social Issues
• Topic: Haiti , Social Problems

Pages: 2 (795 words)

Views: 1239

• Downloads: -->

--> ⚠️ Remember: This essay was written and uploaded by an--> click here.

Found a great essay sample but want a unique one?

are ready to help you with your essay

You won’t be charged yet!

Censorship Essays

Freedom of Speech Essays

Discrimination Essays

Gender Inequality Essays

Civil Rights Essays

Related Essays

We are glad that you like it, but you cannot copy from our website. Just insert your email and this sample will be sent to you.

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service  and  Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Your essay sample has been sent.

In fact, there is a way to get an original essay! Turn to our writers and order a plagiarism-free paper.

samplius.com uses cookies to offer you the best service possible.By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .--> --> Phone: (646) 962-9476