Do the developed countries have a duty to eliminate poverty from developing countries? Introduction Poverty is a state where the basic needs of people are not met. This state can be either of absolute poverty or relative poverty. Absolute poverty can be eradicated and involves a condition of destitution when individuals cannot get adequate resources to sustain the least level of physical health. It is always measured in terms of the amounts of calories that an individual can obtain. Relative poverty on the hand is a comparative approach that looks at situations where people cannot match up with the living standards of the larger population or the standards set by the government. Unlike absolute poverty, it is difficult to eradicate since it exists everywhere.