Lifelong Toronto residents Ron and Carol spend almost 60 percent of their income on basic necessities. Poverty advocates consider them poor, because an average Torontonian household spends no more than 40 percent of income on basic necessities. Which definition of poverty are the advocates using?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The advocates are using the concept of relative poverty, which is defined by comparing an individual's or group's financial situation to the broader community's or society's average or standard. In this case, Ron and Carol are considered poor because they spend a significantly higher percentage of their income on basic necessities than the average Torontonian household.

Lifelong Toronto Residents Ron and Carol Spend Almost 60 Percent