Absolute Poverty Lines
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Book chapter › Research › peer-review
Private consumption capabilities form only one facet of comprehensive living standards assessments, but they are an important facet whose measurement should be done well. Measurement is complex due to a multitude of methodological choices, which often interact with imperfect data and a desire for comparability through time. This chapter outlines ideas underpinning these choices with particular attention to the tensions between consistency and specificity. It also highlights a series of limitations associated with typical cost of basic needs approaches. Finally, it reaffirms that a ‘sensibly eclectic’ approach, employing multiple methods, is the best available mode for addressing these limitations. A first fundamental choice is whether to estimate an absolute poverty line at all. Consumption-based poverty metrics provide only a partial view into the welfare of individuals or households, which may or may not accord with other important facets of welfare.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Measuring Poverty and Wellbeing in Developing Countries |
Editors | Channing Arndt, Finn Tarp |
Publisher | Oxford University Press |
Publication date | 2017 |
Pages | 10-23 |
Chapter | 2 |
ISBN (Print) | 9780198744801 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2017 |
- Faculty of Social Sciences - poverty measurement, poverty line estimation, utility consistency, cost of basic needs, consumption
Research areas
Links
- http://fdslive.oup.com/www.oup.com/academic/pdf/openaccess/9780198744801.pdf
Final published version
ID: 146212079