Poverty continues to be a serious problem in Peru, since nearly a third of the population is poor: a level similar to that recorded a little over a decade ago. The general perception points to the lack of opportunities as the predominant factor that leads people to this situation.
According to the latest national representation survey carried out by the Institute of Peruvian Studies (IEP), 67% of those surveyed; That is, approximately 7 out of every 10 compatriots consider that in Peru people are poor due to the lack of opportunities.
According to Saúl Elguera, member of the Opinion Studies Area of the IEP, this term can cover various dimensions, such as access to decent jobs, quality education and obstacles to starting businesses.
The figure contrasts significantly with 24% who believe that people are poor because they don’t make an effort enough.
Perception is higher in the rural sector
The majority of people who believe that the lack of opportunities is the main cause of poverty are found in rural areas, with 74%, followed by the urban sector (65%) and Metropolitan Lima (64%). This perception also extends widely to the D/E socioeconomic sector, where it reaches 72%.
In the opinion of the IEP representative, this impression could be related to the fact that these sectors face greater obstacles when trying to start a business, access employment, and obtain financing for their activities.
The belief is also higher in people from the northern macrozone, with 75%. The response in this area is influenced by current factors such as the last weather events —adds Elguera—.
Women and adults
If segmentation by sex is taken into account, 70% of women identified the lack of opportunities as the cause of poverty. “This is related to the challenges that women have historically faced in accessing working market and the distribution of their responsibilities between domestic work and work activities,” he comments.
Regarding the age group, it is observed that people over 25 years of age are the most inclined towards this response, reaching 70% in the range of 25 to 35 years and 67% among those over 40 years of age. In those under 25 years of age it reached 57%.
Do you want to start a business in Peru?
According to the IEP, 4 out of 10 people intend to start a business a business in the coming months, while 1 in 10 already has a business.
Those who indicated their intention to start a business belong more to the D/E socioeconomic levels, with 43%.
It is also perceived that this disposition is stronger in the rural area with 46% and in the eastern macrozone, where it reaches 48%, followed by the south (44%), north (41%) and center (38%)
The word
Saúl Elguera, IEP Researcher
“Before thinking about reducing this perception, we must investigate what lack of opportunities means for the population, which can mean anything from difficulty accessing a job to difficulty accessing justice.”
Source: Larepublica
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