What exactly is the state of contemporary poverty and inequality, both in Canada and around the world? In this Episode we will examine definitions of poverty and inequality and, using these definitions, look at estimates of the numbers of those living in poverty and estimates of the state of global human inequality, in order to get a firmer foundation on which to make claims about global poverty and inequality. In addition we will ask the question: why? We will ask this question because before we can propose ways to challenge poverty and inequality we need to know why there is so much poverty and inequality.

Part 2 of the Episode defines poverty, defines the international poverty line, looks at the global numbers of those that live beneath the international poverty line, before questioning whether the international poverty line is an adequate means by which to evaluate poverty.