I do find myself struggling to be impartial for those in need. I get it that everyone is human, but if I only have so much to give, I want it to make impact where it has the most chance of having knock-on impacts. It weighs on me.
I do find myself struggling to be impartial for those in need. I get it that everyone is human, but if I only have so much to give, I want it to make impact where it has the most chance of having knock-on impacts. It weighs on me.
It's relatively easy here, as there is a huge amount of very poor people. But I know what you mean, I've struggled with that a few times, too.
Is there a significant middle-class?
According to the 2022 census, it's only around 8%. 65% is classified as vulnerable, 25% as poor, a little under 2% as rich. Middle class economically is above 900$ these days, which is a lot. Here in Cotacachi, a lot of people make $1.50-$2.00 an hour, so they don't even reach the minimum wage of $470. In the countryside it's even less, sometimes $10 for a day of work.
The government did another survey in 2023, indicating that in the rural areas 47% are poor (below $90 monthly income), and 22,5% extremely poor (below $50 monthly). That means, if I throw my bread out of a helicopter in the rural area, the chance how having it arrive where it's most needed is 70%.
That's why the abrupt change in taking away the Diesel subsidy caused such an outrage. It hits the poorest dis-proportionally. The bus fares are going to increase (minimum is $0,35 now, $0,18 for children). That leaves many of the poor between the decision - send the kids to school, or eat? And unfortunately, that is not overstated.
Okay, this is interesting data. Thanks for putting me on to this, I'm going to write about it in the economic community. It's even worse than I thought.