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In an increasingly complex and interconnected world, understanding socio-economic disparities is critical for future business leaders, healthcare professionals, educators, and policymakers. The Missouri Community Action Poverty Simulation (CAPS) provides a unique, immersive experience that allows students to step into the shoes of individuals facing economic hardship. By engaging in a structured role-playing exercise, students gain first-hand insight into the daily struggles of low-income individuals and families, fostering empathy, problem-solving skills, and a deeper understanding of systemic challenges.

The Missouri Poverty Simulation is not a game—it is an interactive learning tool designed to deepen students’ awareness of the realities of poverty. The simulation is structured to reflect real-life scenarios that individuals and families in poverty face daily. Students are assigned roles that represent various socio-economic backgrounds, ranging from single parents and elderly individuals living on Social Security to families struggling to make ends meet despite full-time employment.

The goal of the simulation is to navigate a month’s worth of financial and logistical challenges within a compressed timeframe. Each participant must secure basic necessities such as food, housing, healthcare, and transportation while addressing unexpected crises, such as job loss, medical emergencies, or childcare shortages. Throughout the experience, students must make difficult decisions, interact with service providers, and manage limited resources, all while dealing with the stress and uncertainty that poverty creates.

One of the most significant takeaways from the Poverty Simulation is the development of empathy. Many students enter the experience with preconceived notions about poverty, often assuming that financial struggles result solely from poor personal choices or a lack of ambition. However, the simulation quickly dispels these misconceptions by illustrating how external factors—such as systemic barriers, economic downturns, and unforeseen circumstances—contribute to financial instability.

Through role-playing, students experience the frustration of navigating bureaucratic systems, the anxiety of making impossible choices, and the emotional toll of financial insecurity. By the end of the exercise, many students express a newfound understanding of how poverty affects individuals and families on a personal and emotional level.

During the simulation, students are required to think critically and strategically under pressure. Students must prioritize expenses, negotiate with service providers, and seek out community resources while managing time constraints and unexpected obstacles. This experience mirrors real-world challenges that individuals in poverty face, forcing students to weigh difficult trade-offs and make decisions with limited information.  For business students, this exercise reinforces the importance of resource allocation, financial planning, and risk management.

The Ä¢¹½TV College of Business management students benefit from the simulation’s lessons on leadership and corporate social responsibility. Many of our students enter the workforce as future employers, decision-makers, and policymakers who will shape workplace policies and community initiatives. The simulation encourages students to consider how their leadership roles can contribute to solutions rather than perpetuate systemic inequities.

For example, students often gain insight into how workplace policies—such as rigid scheduling, lack of paid leave, or limited transportation assistance—disproportionately affect low-income employees. A study by Thompson et al. (2019) examined the effects of a poverty simulation on pharmacy students’ attitudes toward poverty. The results demonstrated a significant improvement in students’ perceptions, indicating a reduction in stigma and an increased understanding of the structural factors contributing to poverty.

By experiencing these struggles firsthand, future business leaders may be more inclined to implement equitable workplace policies, recognizing that small adjustments can make a significant difference in employee well-being and productivity.

Another essential takeaway from the Poverty Simulation is the importance of financial literacy. Many students, particularly those from middle-class or affluent backgrounds, have limited exposure to the financial constraints that low-income families face. The exercise highlights the challenges of balancing expenses, avoiding debt traps, and navigating financial assistance programs.

For students studying economics, finance, or policy, the simulation provides an opportunity to analyze the broader economic forces that contribute to poverty, such as wage stagnation, housing affordability, and access to healthcare. These insights help students bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, reinforcing the real-world implications of economic policies.

While the simulation itself lasts only a few hours, its impact on students is long-lasting. Many students report that the experience shifts their perspectives on poverty and influences their career paths and decision-making processes.

For instance, students pursuing careers in business or human resources often reconsider how they approach employee support systems, workplace flexibility, and wages. Similar to the Arnett-Hartwick and Davis (2019) study, our students found that the simulation encouraged them to have more positive attitudes toward individuals experiencing poverty and influenced their intentions to engage in advocacy and support roles in their future careers. This indicates that experiential learning activities like the Poverty Simulation can inspire long-term commitment to addressing poverty-related issues

The simulation also complements other experiential learning opportunities, such as service-learning projects, internships with nonprofit organizations, and community engagement initiatives. By integrating these experiences into academic programs, Ä¢¹½TV students are better prepared to address real-world challenges with critical thinking and social awareness.

The Poverty Simulation is a powerful educational tool that challenges all College of Business students to think critically, develop empathy, and recognize the complexities of economic hardship. By stepping into the shoes of individuals experiencing poverty, students gain invaluable insights that influence their personal and professional lives.

Ultimately, the Poverty Simulation is not just about understanding poverty—it is about inspiring students to become thoughtful, compassionate leaders who seek to create a more equitable and just society. By incorporating this experience into their final Ä¢¹½TV business class, we can equip students with the knowledge and perspective necessary to make meaningful contributions in their careers and communities.

If you would like to participate in the Poverty Simulation with our students, please contact Dr. Leah Gray at [email protected] for dates and times.  We would love to have you participate and share in the experience with our future graduates.

References:

Arnett-Hartwick, S. E., & Davis, T. S. (2019). Poverty simulation participation: Transformative learning outcomes among family and consumer sciences students. Journal of Research in Technical Careers,Ìý3(2), 24. https://doi.org/10.9741/2578-2118.1057

Thompson J., Goldberger R., Elias T. (2019). Poverty simulations with health professional students: Evidence of impact. Pedagogy in Health Promotion. 2020;6(3):183-195. doi: