Impoverished Consumers,Policymakers,and Moral Traditions: Understanding and Addressing Policy Neglect in Poverty Alleviation

Poverty has existed throughout human history, but its eradication has defied considerable efforts. This article takes a novel approach, recognizing that belief systems of the larger public as well as policymakers are informed by moral traditions that explain why poverty persists despite available resources for remediation. The discussion demonstrates moral and ethical responsibility for beliefs, arguing that faulty belief systems about the poor are crystalized as immoral behavior. This perspective is advanced by invoking research on the Stereotype Content Model. The conceptual integration reveals that perceptions of free will are the basis of negative stereotypes, which blame impoverished consumers for their circumstances, perceiving them as low in competence and warmth. This understanding is crucial for shaping effective public policy that addresses causes of continued poverty as a lack of sufficient consideration and resources. The authors discuss three viable pathways to overcome faulty belief systems: informing belief systems through interconnection, redefining what is considered “enough,” and enacting dignity and right beliefs. These ideas aim to improve material lives of impoverished consumers through intimate connections with those who control access to needed goods and services, providing a foundation for interventions that foster equitable access and promote social justice.