Do concepts matter? An empirical investigation of the differences between a capability and a monetary assessment of poverty (original) (raw)

The Many Dimensions of Deprivation in Peru: theoretical debates and empirical evidence

This paper aims at evaluating the empirical consequences of the theoretical debate on the nature of poverty, focusing in particular on the differences between Sen's capability approach and the mainstream monetary approach. The empirical analysis is performed using data from the ENNIV 1994 survey from Peru. Beginning with a brief review of the main issues emerging from the theoretical debate on the definition of poverty, a framework for comparing capability based and consumption based approaches is presented. A descriptive analysis of the various dimensions of deprivation is performed and the determinants of shortfall in basic capabilities are then modelled through 'capability production functions'. This analysis aims at identifying the relationship between monetary resources and individual achievements by testing for the significance and size of the 'parametric variations' which are at the core of Sen's argument against identifying poverty with monetary indic...

Leaving No One Behind: An Individual-Level Approach to Measuring Multidimensional Poverty in Botswana

Social Indicators Research

The Leave No One Behind principle is at the core of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development and acknowledges that poverty is multidimensional and should be examined at individual level. Notwithstanding this, most empirical studies use the household as the unit of analysis for multidimensional poverty measurement. However, estimation of poverty levels at household-level underestimates poverty levels of the society and does not capture intra-household inequalities. The objective of this study is two-fold: (1) developing a country-specific individual-level multidimensional poverty measure; and (2) providing estimates of multidimensional poverty for Botswana. This study contributes to the limited literature on individual-level multidimensional poverty measurement. Empirically, this study offers the first attempt to estimate a nationally relevant and context-specific multidimensional poverty index for Botswana using the individual as a unit of analysis. The results reveal that an est...

Multidimensional Poverty Measurement and Analysis: Chapter 6 – Normative Choices in Measurement Design

PSN: Comparative Poverty (Topic), 2015

After a measurement methodology has been chosen, the design of poverty measures-whether unidimensional or multidimensional-require a series of normative choices. These choices relate to the space of the measure, its purpose, unit of identification and analysis, dimensions, indicators, deprivation cutoffs, weights, and poverty line. The normative contribution is not simply philosophical; it has a practical aim: to motivate action. This entails reasoned assessment of multiple considerations including feasibility, technical and statistical strength, ease of communication, and legitimacy. This chapter describes each of these normative choices in the context of multidimensional poverty measurement design. It clarifies the implications of each choice, illustrates interconnections between them, and outlines alternative ways that these choices might be understood, made, and justified.

Improving poverty measurement in Sri Lanka

2004

The past few years have seen great progress in the area of poverty measurement, both in terms of the development and consolidation of best practice, and in conceptual and methodological advances. This study examines poverty measurement in Sri Lanka against the backdrop of these developments, reviewing 22 poverty measurement studies over the period 1969-2002. It evaluates existing sources of data for poverty measurement, and makes recommendations that identify priority actions for improvement, key players in the process and what steps need to be taken.