Historian A: John Guy – Economic Perspective "John Guy argues that the poverty experienced by many in Elizabethan society was primarily due to economic factors. He suggests that inflation, rising rents, and limited job opportunities contributed significantly to the hardships faced by the poor. According to Guy, the government’s policies and economic conditions created a cycle of poverty that many could not escape, and charitable efforts were insufficient to address the root causes."

Historian B: Elaine Hobby – Social Perspective "Elaine Hobby contends that the poverty of the Elizabethan poor was largely a result of social and moral decline. She emphasizes that laziness, lack of moral discipline, and social disintegration contributed to their plight. Hobby argues that societal decay and individual moral failings were more responsible for poverty than economic factors alone, and that social attitudes towards the poor played a key role in shaping their experiences."