Is there a joint field of cooperation among the BRICS countries in measures against poverty and extreme poverty?

Abstract

The article uses World Bank methodological approaches to show that the BRICS countries have very significant differences in their level of development, which impact on the share of the extremely poor. Using two key indicators: GNI per capita and human capital index, the author shows that 5 countries (Brazil, China, India, South Africa and Russia) can be classified as three different groups. Achieving the main goal of sustainable development the eradication of extreme poverty should not only be the main task of the four BRICS countries, but also be addressed in each of them, including Russia by different methods. The author then draws a conclusion that using the deprivation poverty indicator, as opposed to income poverty, complicates the cross-country analysis of this phenomenon in the BRICS. Finally, he notes the particular relevance of eliminating extreme poverty among young generations, the presence of which reduces the country`s ability to grow human capital. Keywords—extreme poverty; income poverty; BRICS group; GNI; World Bank; human capital