IELTS Essay # Financial aid

March 19, 2020 Pooja Ph.D. CELTA

IELTS Writing task 2
You should spend 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Providing financial aid to the poor can increase poverty.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant example from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.

Sample Answer

Poverty has become a pressing problem across the globe. Governments in many countries take various measures to control the rising poverty levels. Giving monetary help to the poor is one of the most common methods followed globally. But, the effectiveness of this approach is often questioned by social reformers and economists. According to them, this measure can make the situation worse. I completely agree with this view and in this essay I will support my opinion with examples.

Firstly, financial support does not provide the poor with a motive to become self-sustained. It seriously damages the spirit of self-development. The fundamental reason behind this is the psychological attitude which it creates in the minds of beneficiaries. If someone is getting money for their needs without doing any work, then why they would work. Even if the amount is less, they are willing to accept it. Such people resist any kind of change in their way of living. This can be exemplified with unemployment benefit receivers who hardly try to find a suitable employment for themselves.

Another reason why I am against distributing money to the poor is that it affects the overall growth and development of a country. Research has shown that nations where citizens depend on monetary help experience a slow economic growth rate. A possible explanation for this could be the skewed distribution of the available funds. The money that is meant for the development of the nation is given to those who do not contribute to the economy in anyway. Therefore, it can be concluded that this solution creates a vicious cycle of poverty that is extremely hard to break.

To sum up, any government is responsible to fulfil the basic needs of its people. But, I strongly believe that providing financial help to the poor is not the answer. This practice should be discouraged. Other measures like skill development programmes, opening aided schools and hospitals, and creating more employment opportunities can yield far better results. In short, do not give fish to the poor, teach them how to fish. (341 Words)

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