Why change (and poverty alleviation) is difficult?

Change is good... and so is poverty alleviation... but even if everybody agrees that poverty must be eradicated (or reduced at the least), it is not easy, it never was and never will be.

One reason is that poverty alleviation involves change, and change involves uncertainty... and everything in between is complicated. From an individual point of view, change may be desired generally but the fear of uncertainty is too great that (s)he would rather settle for the current status... no matter how mediocre or how pitiful the current situation is.

For instance, the government intends to relocate people living under bridges or next to esteros and canals. There are several reasons for their relocation, it is dangerous for those living there, especially when there are storms and floods. The informal settlers impede the flow of water, worsening flooding. They throw their waste directly into the water, leading to pollution.

Relocating them might be good for the general public and to them as well. They can be provided temporary housing or permanent relocation site or a fare back to their province. But all the options involve uncertainty for them. The relocation site might be far and inaccessible. They might not be able to find jobs there. They might not be able to find people to look after their children when they work. All these uncertainties may be enough to convince them that they are better off looking for a nearby bridge or estero to live at.

There is another problem... with great changes come much greater expectations. You hope for changes and improvements... But what if you get disappointed... During elections, we here politicians promise change, some old politicians promise the same things they promised the previous election. Some people vote for the dismal current state simply because they don't want to be disappointed. 

The secret to happiness... says one joke... lowered expectations. This is probably the reason why poverty is easier to escape than to eradicate.

There are other problems with change... sometimes, the road to hell is littered with good intentions. Proposals intended to protect or help the people in the short run, might be disastrous in the long run. These might include legislated across the board wage increases, rent control, VAT abolition, and zero-rated loans.

And sometimes, it boils down to implementation... The devil is in the details. A hydroelectric dam that will provide renewable source of energy, irrigation and drinking water involves the destruction of villages and relocation of thousands of people. The Clean Air Act prohibited incinerators, instead of burning we are burying our garbage, including dangerous, contaminated hospital wastes. 

Some people might call me a pessimist, for me, I think I am a "realist". Realizing  that poverty alleviation is difficult puts into context why so many great ideas failed and will continue to fail. Change involves everybody, everybody (or at least the majority) must agree that they want change.

Poverty alleviation involves everybody, but not everybody agrees how to reduce poverty.