Haiti – Poorest Country in the Western Hemisphere, Outline Example

I. Introduction

a. 80 percent of population lives under the poverty live

i. 54 percent lives in abject poverty

b. Economic statistics paint a similar picture

i. Per capita GDP in 2011 was merely $1,300

ii. Unemployment rate in 2010 was staggering 40.6 percent

iii. Industrial production growth declined by 4.8 percent in 2010

II. Factors behind high poverty rates

Haiti’s high poverty rates are not the outcome of a single factor but several contributing factors

a. Overpopulation (CIA)

i. Haiti’s land area is 27,750 sq km

1. Slightly smaller than Maryland

ii. Haiti’s current population is approximately 9.8 million

1. In contrast, Maryland’s population was approximately 5.8 million last year (United States Census Bureau)
2. Haiti’s population is more than 50 percent that of Maryland

iii. Overpopulation lowers quality of life

1. Limited resources to feed ever-growing population
2. Demand for labor exceeds supply of labor

b. Poor healthcare system (Wong, 2009)

i. Fewer healthcare facilities than needed

1. Hospitals’ bed occupation rates are often 100 percent

b. Countries faces several health epidemics (Redmond, 2010)

1. Over 5,000 die each year due to tuberculosis
2. HIV/AIDS kills over 7,000 each year
3. Most of the victims are between the ages of 15 and 49
4. 9 percent of children under 5 are underweight (CIA)
5. Only 51 percent had access to clean water in 2010 (The World Bank)

c. Overall healthcare system is in shambles (Wong, 2009)

i. The country still lacks modern facilities

ii. Latest medical technologies still absent in Haiti

d. Poor health means fewer individuals able to work

i. Missed work days and poor job performance

ii. Huge economic costs to the country

c. Poor education system (CIA)

a. Literacy rate is only 52.9 percent

b. Only 8 percent were internet users in 2010 (UNICEF)

c. Low literacy rate and poor skills lower quality of life

i. Low-income jobs

ii. Competitive disadvantage against foreign competitors

III. Natural disasters have worsened the situation (Miller, 2010)

a. Economic cost estimated at $14 billion

i. Total value of goods and services produced per year is approximately $7 billion

b. Hundreds of thousands died

c. Several years required to repair infrastructure

i. Loss of time will further push back the country’s economy

IV. Conclusion

a. Haiti’s high poverty rates are the result of several factors

i. Overpopulations puts pressure on limited resources

ii. Poor healthcare system results in loss of working days and poor job performance

iii. Poor education system means low quality labor force

References

CIA. (n.d.). The World Factbook – Haiti. Retrieved August 11, 2012, from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ha.html

Miller, T. (2010, February 17). Economic Cost of Haiti Quake Could Hit $14 Billion. Retrieved August 11, 2012, from http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2010/02/economic-cost-to-haiti-could-hit-14-billion.html

Redmond, H. (2010, February 11). Haiti and Health Care. Retrieved August 11, 2012, from http://www.counterpunch.org/2010/02/11/haiti-and-health-care/

The World Bank. (n.d.). Haiti. Retrieved August 11, 2012, from http://data.worldbank.org/country/haiti/

UNICEF. (n.d.). Education. Retrieved August 11, 2012, from http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/haiti_statistics.html#90

United States Census Bureau. (n.d.). Maryland. Retrieved August 11, 2012, from http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/24000.html

Wong, G. (2009, April 13). In Haiti, patients despair of adequate health care. Retrieved August 11, 2012, from http://articles.cnn.com/2009-04-13/health/haiti.crisis_1_trauma-cases-trauma-center-health-care?_s=PM:HEALTH