How social norms and extreme poverty interact: infographic

While the relationship between poverty and harmful social norms seems intuitively clear, this link is complex and often contested. In this infographic we explain where should we be putting more energy into studying the role social norms in order to eradicate extreme poverty.

Harmful social norms that lead to the impoverishment of a particular group tend to be deeply embedded in social structures and are necessarily difficult to change. However, they must be addressed if extreme poverty is to be tackled. A first step is to ensure that pivotal social norms have been correctly identified and are being targeted when designing poverty alleviation programmes. Additionally, a long-term approach must be taken when evaluating these programmes in order to gain a clear-eyed analysis of their potential success.

Read the social norms thematic paper here.