The article explores how poverty is influenced by factors beyond just money in developing countries. It looks at how ethnicity, local governance, and cultural values can impact poverty levels. The researchers found that traditional norms and governance systems can negatively affect the welfare of citizens, and cultural beliefs can contribute to poverty in communities. They also discovered that many national policies for poverty reduction focus too much on economic factors and overlook important non-economic influences. The study highlights the need to address institutional, cultural, and attitudinal issues in poverty reduction strategies in emerging countries.