Maintaining widespread poverty doesn't take any effort. In fact, it requires only that very little effort is made. Eliminating or reducing poverty creates economic opportunity for a wider group of people which puts pressure on wages and reduces profits for the very wealthy. To eliminate or greatly reduce poverty, you have to stop the people in power from exploiting the labor for extreme wealth.

'To stop war you have to take the profit out of war.' -- General Smedley Butler USMC from 'War is a Racket'

To stop poverty, you have to take the profit out of poverty.