A study of poverty in Republic of Armenia: the nature of poverty in Armenia and potential strategies for its alleviation

Abstract

“Poverty in Armenia” Master’s essay consists of Introduction part, Chapters 1 and 2, Conclusion and Recommendation part. In Introduction part I describe the poverty in transition counties particularly in Former Soviet Union and Central and Eastern Europe. I describe the nature of the poverty in those countries and bring some similarities and differences that occur in countries in that period. I also bring the fact about who should be considered poor, what strata in society is most vulnerable to poverty. I also bring the fact about importance of Social Assistance System in poverty alleviation process, and what could be done for making its work effective. In Chapter 1 I discuss the situation of poverty in Armenia. Armenia as all CIS countries has common features in that problem. But Armenia with different historical background and different traditions faces this problem in its own way. And it is important to clearly understand what kind of group in society is poor now in Armenia, what brings them to that situation. I also describe the situation of how social assistance is contributed to that problem. In Chapter 2 I make an analysis of the survey conducted by me and compare them with the Survey conducted in 1996. This is done mainly to see what kind of changes take place within 4 years with the living standards of the population. It is also important to see what government does for alleviation of this problem. And in the Conclusion and Recommendation part I bring my own recommendations concerning of how this problem could be solved. They are mainly connected with the new criteria that Social Assistance Systems should take into account in order to work more effectively, several reforms should have been take in the sphere of social insurance, and government should undertake global economic changes for the alleviation of poverty.