--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the past we used to think of poverty…" description: "\"In the past we used to think of poverty in absolute terms - meaning straightforward material deprivation... We need to think of poverty in relative ter..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac2/david-cameron-1858_absolutes_in-the-past-we-used-to-think-of-poverty_2534778.png" --- # In the past we used to think of poverty in absolute terms… ![“In the past we used to think of poverty in absolute terms - meaning straightforward material deprivation... We need to think of poverty in relative terms - the fact that some people lack those things which others in society take for granted.” quote by David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac2/david-cameron-1858_absolutes_in-the-past-we-used-to-think-of-poverty_2534778.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac2/david-cameron-1858_absolutes_in-the-past-we-used-to-think-of-poverty_2534778.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac2/david-cameron-1858_absolutes_in-the-past-we-used-to-think-of-poverty_2534778.png) > “In the past we used to think of poverty in absolute terms - meaning straightforward material deprivation... We need to think of poverty in relative terms - the fact that some people lack those things which others in society take for granted.” [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Poverty should be measured by comparing individuals’ standards of living to societal norms, not just by lack of basic goods. **In simple terms:** Relative poverty compares to others. Key Takeaway Address inequality, not just lack. Themes inequality social justice policy economics Mood concerned analytical Type policy analytical When to use this quote - public policy design - social research - community development - education programs Key Concepts relative deprivation social comparison welfare economics Questions to Reflect On - How does relative poverty affect social cohesion? - What policies best reduce both absolute and relative poverty? A Different Perspective Relative measures can overlook severe material need in some contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absolutes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolutes/) [Deprivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deprivation/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“It’s material deprivation that starts all this off.” “They’ve got dishwashers, Miranda,” Billa said. “They’re not examples of material deprivation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-hensher/it-s-material-deprivation-that-starts-all-this-off-they-ve-got/) [Philip Hensher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-hensher/) > [“There's no demonstrable link between hoarding and early material deprivation. But there is a link between hoarding and EMOTIONAL deprivation. Many hoarders report being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-sholl/there-s-no-demonstrable-link-between-hoarding-and-early-material/) Jessie Sholl > [Poverty is relative, and the lack of food and of the necessities of life is not necessarily a hardship. 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