Economists tend to look at people as "inputs", things that can be moved around. They base economic policies on the ability to train, standardize, and move around "human capital". Politicians look at the distribution of resources and who should get what. Educaters create curriculums based on the culture and priorities within that culture, the culture's idea of what knowledge is and what is important in the world.

We will always have poverty as there will always be clashes in how resources should be shuffled around, who should get what with the limited resources available, and what is important to whom. Poverty can only be diminished by bringing peace and understanding of other views, values, and sharing the wealth.