Do concepts matter? An empirical investigation of the differences between a capability and a monetary assessment of poverty (original) (raw)
Does it matter that we don't agree on the definition of poverty? A comparison of four approaches
2000
While there is worldwide agreement on poverty reduction as an overriding goal of development policy, there is little agreement on the definition of poverty. The paper reviews four approaches to the definition and measurement of poverty -the monetary, capability, social exclusion and participatory approaches. It points out the theoretical underpinnings of the various measures, and problems of operationalising them. It argues that each is a construction of reality, involving numerous judgements, which are often not transparent. The different methods have different implications for policy, and also, to the extent that they point to different people as being poor, for targeting. Empirical work in Peru and India shows that there is significant lack of overlap between the methods with, for example, nearly half the population identified as in poverty according to monetary poverty not in capability poverty, and conversely. This confirms similar findings elsewhere. Hence the definition of poverty does matter for poverty eradication strategies.
Does it Matter that we do not Agree on the Definition of Poverty? A Comparison of Four Approaches
Oxford Development Studies, 2003
While there is worldwide agreement on poverty reduction as an overriding goal of development policy, there is little agreement on the definition of poverty. The paper reviews four approaches to the definition and measurement of poverty -the monetary, capability, social exclusion and participatory approaches. It points out the theoretical underpinnings of the various measures, and problems of operationalising them. It argues that each is a construction of reality, involving numerous judgements, which are often not transparent. The different methods have different implications for policy, and also, to the extent that they point to different people as being poor, for targeting. Empirical work in Peru and India shows that there is significant lack of overlap between the methods with, for example, nearly half the population identified as in poverty according to monetary poverty not in capability poverty, and conversely. This confirms similar findings elsewhere. Hence the definition of poverty does matter for poverty eradication strategies.
Poverty and Capability: Toward an Empirically Implementable Measure
2017
Este trabajo intenta hacer operacional el concepto de Amartya Sen sobre la pobreza. Al contrario de la mayoria de los estudios que miden la pobreza desde un punto de vista de producto/consumo, Sen considera este concepto como absoluto. Sin embargo, el umbral que define la pobreza se determina en terminos de capacidades. Este articulo propone una lista de cinco capacidades basicas, esenciales para la vida humana, y la metodologia para hacerlas funcionales. ABSTRACT This paper represents an attempt to operationalize Sen's concept of poverty. Contrary to most studies that take a commodities/consumption orientation to measure poverty, in Sen's approach poverty is an absolute concept. But the threshold level that defines poverty is defined in terms of capabilities that are essential to human life and a methodology to make them operational.
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...
Measuring Poverty: the Methodological Debate
Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development, 2013
The focus of the international community on poverty reduction has been gaining momentum since the early 1990s. The World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen (2005) and the subsequent Millennium Summit in New York (2000) provided considerable political will for the reduction of poverty. The debate has been how a multi-dimensional subject like poverty can be measured statistically. Should we continue the single measure using consumption or accept a composite measure; and how would this measure be amenable to quantitative manipulation. This paper traced this methodological debate and offers the contribution that the intensity of poverty can be better measured using a composite income or expenditure metrics that captures expenditure on the individual's basic necessities of life such as food, health, clothing shelter, education etc. This is because changes in income or expenditure have multiplier effects that influence all aspects of the quality of human life, both at the micro and macro levels. Many of the known indices of poverty, such as those mentioned above, are directly or indirectly dependent on income. Even qualitative indicators such as dignity, power and security are better assured to people with higher income to spare.
An analytical framework for conceptualizing poverty and re-examining the capability approach
The Journal of Socio-Economics, 2007
In this paper, we propose an analytical framework for conceptualizing poverty. Our aim is twofold. Firstly, we will show how our framework could be helpful in clarifying the debate within the poverty literature by attempting to make some order among the various, often confused levels of analysis. Secondly, we will demonstrate how this framework could be useful in re-examining the capability approach.
A Comparative Analisys of Poverty Theories Un Análisis Comparativo sobre las Teorías de la Pobreza
Journal-Public Economy, 2019
Several scholars of the issue of poverty point out that the different ways in which poverty is conceptualized and quantified are of the utmost importance because various poverty measures tend to capture different people as poor. In that sense, this research work seeks to conduct a theoretical and empirical research on theories of poverty, poverty measures and results. Also, we discuss the conceptual framework of the different poverty measures.
2016
This chapter documents a participatory approach to developing a new, gender-sensitive measure of deprivation that improves upon existing measures of poverty and gender equity. Over 3 years, across 18 sites in Angola, Fiji, Indonesia, Malawi, Mozambique, and the Philippines, men and women in poor communities engaged in a range of qualitative discussions and quantitative evaluation exercises to help develop the Individual Deprivation Measure. The IDM tracks deprivation in 15 dimensions, uses interval scales within dimensions and can easily be administered in most impoverished areas. It represents a significant advance in multidimensional measurement by focusing on individuals rather than households, by covering all important dimensions of poverty, by being gender-sensitive in the selection and coding of dimensions and by being appropriately sensitive to the depth of deprivation. The IDM demonstrates the possibility of establishing objective tools of social valuation through a process ...