Those who are illiterate are doubly disadvantaged, as they can less easily know where and how to look for remunerated activities. Poor people may be unable to afford transportation costs, thus be limited in their ability to look for a job. Women in some societies cannot even borrow funds by themselves or own property without their husband's, father's or brother's consent. Commodity producers' and farmers' income is dependent on trade rules and international commodity rates. Speculative movements of capital may destroy in a few days decades of economic growth and social progress, throwing employees of companies together with emerging small entrepreneurs into poverty.
Malnutrition renders millions of people around the globe less productive.
Natural disasters wreck in no time years of patient efforts to create a livelihood and can be fatal for those who have no savings. Lack of access to electricity and other amenities may constitute a major obstacle for income creation. Bureaucratic rules and laws may hamper business creativity. Excessive competitiveness brought about through liberalisation and de-regulation may knock out poor and fragile entrepreneurs. The cost of childcare may deter unemployed parents who live on social benefits from taking a job if it is not sufficiently paid.