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Penury portrait 贫困的历史画像 The consensus on raising people out of poverty issurprisingly recent 直到最近人们才就脱贫问题达成共识，实在令人惊讶 ON JULY 17th India released its latest povertyfigures. They tell an encouraging tale: just under22% of Indians were below the poverty line in 2011-12, down from over 37% in 2004-05.With an election not far off, these statistics will not go unchallenged. Naysayers arealready grumbling that the numbers have been released early to make the government lookgood. But even as political opponents slug it out, it is worth noting what they are not arguingabout. Nobody is saying that a decline in poverty is a bad thing. Nor does anyone disputethat policymakers should try to help large numbers of poor people out of penury. Thismirrors a worldwide consensus: whether the United Nations or the World Bank, sundrypublic officials or high-minded celebrities, everyone thinks that poverty alleviation is bothdesirable and possible. The debates are about the details. 7月17日，印度公布了最新的贫困人口数据。数据表现出一派令人鼓舞的迹象：2011年至2012年间，生活在贫困线以下的印度人口比例从2004至2005年间的37%以上降至22%以下。该数据公布之时恰逢印度国会大选日益临近，因此注定会引发质疑。质疑者已嚷嚷着这些数据提早发布不过是为了彰显政府的政绩。但是，即使政治对手意欲在此问题上与政府争个高下，可争议之外的东西才是值得人们关注的。没人说贫困人口数下降是一件糟糕的事。当然人们也不会就决策层是否应该试着帮助为数众多的穷人脱离贫困展开争论。这一现象反映出一个已在世界范围内达成的共识：不论是联合国或是世界银行，还是形形色色的公职人员或心系苍生的名人，人人都认为扶贫不仅可取，而且可行。所有的争论都关乎于细节问题。 | 
