According to Anup Shah (2013), “Nearly half of the world's population – more than 3 billion people – live on less than $2.50 a day. More than 1.3 billion people live in extreme poverty, on less than $1.25 a day." Poverty is a simple word made up of seven letters; however, its meaning is powerful and perplexing. We often hear the word poverty; without realizing what is really hidden behind it. So, what does poverty really mean? Poverty is hunger and lack of shelter. Poverty is getting sick and not being able to see a doctor. Poverty is the inability to obtain an education. Poverty is not having a job and fearing what the future holds for us. Poverty means losing a child to a disease caused by an unsanitary environment. Poverty is a situation in which people's basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter are not met (“Poverty”, n.d.). Poverty is a problem that affects various factors, including education, health and crime rates in different countries around the world. First, educational attainment is largely influenced by poverty. There is a clear relationship between a low-income family and lack of educational achievement. According to David Sirota (2013), “Social science research in recent decades has shown that two-thirds of student achievement is the product of extracurricular factors – and the most important of these is economic status.” One of the reasons for the lack of education in poor families is the inability to enroll children in school due to the family's very low income. Another reason that pushes students to leave educational institutions is pregnancy, which in most cases occurs due to poverty. Low-income families often seek a better life by involving young people in the family in prostitution...... middle of paper......, not teachers.Saloncom RSS. Retrieved December 9, 2013, from http://www.salon.com/2013/11/07/we_need_a_war_on_poverty_not_teachers/Poverty. (n.d.). BusinessDictionary.com. Retrieved December 8, 2013, from http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/poverty.htmlCauses and Effects of Poverty. (n.d.).Cliffnotes. Retrieved December 9, 2013, from http://www.cliffsnotes.com/sciences/sociology/social-and-global-stratification/causes-and-effects-of-povertyCauses & Effects of Poverty On Society, Children & Violence. (n.d.). Poverties.org. Retrieved December 8, 2013, from http://www.poverties.org/effects-of-poverty.htmlBrooks-Gunn, J., & Duncan, G.J. (1997). The effects of poverty on children. Children and Poverty, 7(2), 57-60. Taylor, B. (n.d.). Poverty and crime.economics.fundamentalfinance.com. Retrieved December 6, 2013, from http://economics.fundamentalfinance.com/