Spatial Pattern and Determinant of Poverty Cases in Sragen Regency, Java

Abstract

Abstract The poverty pattern observed in Sragen Regency, Central Java, revealed that inadequate infrastructure development led to the migration of the underprivileged community residing in a relatively isolated region to areas with better geographical conditions and accessibility. Remarkably, this study unveiled a negative correlation between the dependency ratio and poverty in Sragen Regency. This unique circumstance arose from the early employment of children in this locality, surpassing their peers, which generated additional income for their families. Despite the reduction in poverty, the persistent cycle of poverty looms due to the substandard quality of education that hampers their productivity from reaching optimal levels. To address this issue, this study suggests that infrastructure development in low rural areas should prioritize unlocking the potential to enhance production value while simultaneously providing the community with additional income sources, thereby deterring low-income families from migrating to urban areas. Consequently, their children will have improved educational opportunities.