impoverimento

Impoverimento is the noun in Italian for the process of becoming poorer. In economic and social analysis, it denotes a sustained decline in the endowments available to individuals, households, or communities, including income, assets, and capabilities, leading to lower living standards and reduced opportunity. The term covers both observable material conditions and less tangible aspects such as diminished security and social participation. It may describe personal impoverishment, as well as trends at family, neighborhood, regional, or national levels during economic downturns.

Drivers of impoverishment include prolonged income decline, unemployment and underemployment, rising debt, inflation, and loss of assets. Health problems and exposure to economic or natural shocks such as disasters or price spikes can accelerate the process. Environmental degradation and resource depletion can erode livelihoods, especially in rural or resource-dependent economies. Structural factors such as unequal access to education, credit, and opportunities also contribute to persistent impoverishment.

Consequences encompass reduced consumption, poorer nutrition, worse health and education outcomes, inadequate housing, and greater social exclusion. Impoverishment can be cyclical, with diminished opportunities reinforcing low income and limiting recovery, potentially creating cross-generational effects.

In policy and development debates, impoverishment is analyzed alongside poverty and deprivation and is addressed through various measures such as social protection, income support, access to healthcare and education, and strategies to strengthen employment opportunities and resilience. See also: poverty, deprivation, social exclusion, inequality.