The paper of Gans (1971) is dedicated to the analysis of such social phenomenon as poverty. It seems logical to assume that poverty cannot be associated with any positive function because no one benefits from it, with the exception of “the slumlord and the loan” (Gans, 1971, 20). However, since “their activities are classified among the dysfunctions of poverty”, they also could not represent any positive aspects of poverty (Gans, 1971, 20). Nonetheless, Gans (1971) presents a peculiar idea that poverty could be positively associated with the “expansion of respectable professions and occupations, for example, penology, criminology, social work, and public health” (p. 20). In other words, the rise of poverty provides jobs for people in numerous spheres and even motivates activists, journalists, and social scientists to investigate the causes of this phenomenon and fight it.
Gans (1971) marks that poverty could be regarded as a guarantee that society will always have someone willing to do the “dirty work” to earn some money. Indeed, it is hard to find an employee for underpaid, difficult, and dangerous jobs in prosperous societies. Secondly, poor people with low wages subsidize economic activities beneficial for the middle and upper economic classes. Thirdly, poverty creates jobs for the specialists that work in the spheres that target needy citizens. Fourthly, poor people buy cheap goods of low quality that more affluent individuals would never purchase. Additionally, people with low income act as a motivating example for society and force them to work hard and invest in education. Besides, wealthy people use poverty to demonstrate their income and status and raise their social image through participating in charity.
Nonetheless, it is a mistake to believe that poverty is a favourable condition of society. Instead, it should be actively fought because there are other ways to ensure that the “dirty work” will be done and cheap and substandard will be bought. For example, it will be easier to attract employees for some low-level jobs if wages are higher. Still, the problem is that poverty could only be eradicated if it becomes useless for powerful and wealthy people.
Reference
Gans, R. (1971). The uses of poverty: The poor pay all. Social Policy, 20-24.