An important outside force that contributes to poverty is that unskilled labor is not protected by the law of supply and demand. The United States permits large numbers of unskilled workers to enter the country every year. Plentiful labor is cheaper labor. However, this labor makes an important contribution to our growing, dynamic economy. It frees others capable of making a skilled contribution.
Industrial countries depend on surplus labor.
But when the economy recesses, they prefer to return these workers to their country of origin.