Originally posted by DieHard69
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Lately there has been criticism of both vote buyers as well as vote sellers.
I think this is misplaced.
Imagine the amount of disposable cash that the vote buyer outlays with the view of making it up when elected with a substantial return.
Conversely the vote seller is in no position to think about tomorrow let alone the future of our hayrenik of a few years on.
Imagine -- just imagine: seriously, the parent who goes hungry to provide something for his/her kids.
The sense of failure and hopelessness he feels for not being able to provide for their children. Etc. etc.
All this suit the governing elite.
If they are able to keep a substantial percentage of the population in poverty, being elected through vote buying is a piece of cake.
Commentators express surprise, how a failed government keeps being re-elected?
Three of ten Armenian citizens are below poverty line
YEREVAN, November 7. /ARKA/. The poverty rate in Armenia in 2015 was 29.8%, by 0.2% less than in 2014, according to a National Statistical Service’s (NSS) report ‘Poverty and social panorama of Armenia." According to the report, the total number of poor people in Armenia last year stood at 900,000, of whom 310, 000 were very poor and 60,000 extremely poor. Therefore, 19.4% of the population was poor, 8.4% - very poor and 2% - extremely poor.
The monthly upper threshold of poverty in 2015 was 41,698 drams or $87.2 per adult (in terms of consumption), while the lower poverty threshold was - 34,234 drams or $71.6 and the extreme poverty threshold was 24,109 drams, or $50, 4. According to the report, three of the 10 Armenian citizens were below the poverty line, that is, their monthly income was below 41,698 drams.
The urban poverty level last year was 29.4%, which was 1.8% higher than in 2008. Moreover, the urban settlements accounted for 61.5% of the total poor population. The poverty level in rural areas increased even more from 2008 - by 2.9%, amounting to 30.4%. The lowest poverty rate of 25% was in the capital city Yerevan.
In Shirak, Lori, Kotayk, Tavush, Gegharkunik regions of the country the poverty rate was above the average national rate. The highest poverty rate in 2015 was registered in Shirak region - 45%.
The survey was conducted in 40 cities and 214 rural areas of the country embracing 5,184 households.
Some 15.6% of respondents identified themselves as poor, and 1.9% - as extremely poor.
The 17th report ‘Poverty and social panorama of Armenia", prepared by the NSS with the analytical and technical assistance of the World Bank, is designed to assess the social situation and living standards changes in Armenia in 2008-2015. ($ 1 - 476.83 drams). -0-
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