This document discusses concepts and methods for measuring poverty. It notes that while governments collect many statistics on poverty, the data ultimately comes from individual reports that may not be accurate. There are practical concerns in measuring poverty, including defining the poverty line, what unit to measure (individual, household), and what indicators to use. Common methods for setting the poverty line include the food energy intake method and cost of basic needs approach. The food energy intake method sets the poverty line based on the expenditure needed to meet minimum daily calorie requirements. The cost of basic needs approach identifies items in a basic consumption bundle and determines the total cost. Poverty lines may vary by region due to differences in prices and publicly provided goods and services.

1. Measurement of Poverty:
Concepts & Measurements
Measurement of Poverty 1

2. Measurement of Poverty
“The governments are very keen on
amassing statistics. They collect them,
add them, raise them to the nth power
and take the cubed root and prepare
wonderful diagrams.
But you must never forget that every
one of these figures comes in the first
instance from the village watchman who
just puts down whatever he damn well
pleases.”
- Sir Josiah Stamp Measurement of Poverty 2

3. Measurement of Poverty Practical
Concerns
• Identification of Poverty Line
• Defining the Unit of Measurement
• Selecting the Indicator of Well-being
Measurement of Poverty 3

4. Identification of Poverty Lines
• The point at which the poor are separated
from the non-poor
– Relative Poverty Lines
– Absolute Poverty Lines
Measurement of Poverty 4

5. Absolute Poverty Lines
Type Description Features
Food Energy Intake  Based on observed  PL may vary by sub-
relation between groups of population
calorie intake and e.g. by region
total household
expenditure
Cost of Basic Needs  Identifies bundle of  Most common
goods necessary to method
meet basic needs,  Identification of
then estimates cost basic needs may not
be strghtfwd
World Bank US$1 /  US$370 / year  Eases comparison
day across countries
 Zero cost of
calculation
 Conversion to local
currency problematic
Measurement of Poverty 5

6. Food Energy Intake Method
• Sets PL at the level of expenditure at which FEI is
just sufficient to meet basic nutrition requirements
• STEP ONE: Establish the minimum nutrition
requirements.
• STEP TWO: Examine the observed spending pattern
to see at what average expenditure household just
achieve minimum nutrition requirement.
Measurement of Poverty 6

7. Food Energy Intake Method
Food
Energy
Intake
Min Nutrition
Standard (eg 2100
cals.)
PL Expenditure
(or Income)
Measurement of Poverty 7

8. Food Energy Intake Method
• The PL determined by the FEI method may
vary across regions due to differences in:
Preferences: if more expensive animal protein and
less food grain is eaten.
Relative Prices: in urban areas it may cost more to
obtain basic nutrition because food prices are higher.
Publicly Provided Goods: in capital city transport
to/from work may be cheaper than in provincial cities,
allowing for lower expenditure level to meet
minimum FEI.
Measurement of Poverty 8

9. Food Energy Intake Method
• This method does take account of non-food
purchases.
Measurement of Poverty 9

10. Cost of Basic Needs
• PL is equal to the value of a bundle of
consumption goods necessary to meet basic
needs
May include just food (extreme poverty)
But more commonly includes non-food items
Measurement of Poverty 10

11. Cost of Basic Needs
• STEP ONE: Establish the minimum
consumption bundle necessary to meet basic
needs
Measurement of Poverty 11

12. Cost of Basic Needs
• STEP TWO: Establish the cost for the items in
the basic consumption bundle
Measurement of Poverty 12

13. Additional Considerations in Setting
Poverty Lines
• Regional Poverty Lines
Significant regional price differences may exist
Urban / Rural poverty lines common
• Sensitivity Analysis
Typically near mode of distribution
Multiple poverty lines often tried
Measurement of Poverty 13

14. Distribution of Expenditure
Mexico, 1992
0.18
0.16 Poverty Line
0.14
Population Share
0.12
0.1
0.08
0.06
0.04
0.02
0
6000
11000
16000
21000
31000
36000
41000
46000
51000
56000
61000
66000
71000
76000
81000
86000
91000
96000
10100
10600
1000
26000
Expenditure/Quarter (1984 pesos)
Measurement of Poverty 14

15. Cumulative Percentage of Population
10
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
0
1
00
60
00
11
00
0
16
00
0
21
00
0
26
00
0
31
00
0
36
00
0
41
00
0
46
00
0
51
00
0
56
00
Poverty Line
0
61
00
0
66
00
0
71
00
0
76
Measurement of Poverty
Expenditure/Quarter (1984 pesos)
00
0
81
00
0
Expenditure
86
00
Mexico, 1992
0
91
00
0
96
00
10 0
10
0
10 0
60
00
Cumulative Distribution of
15

16. Measurement of Poverty Practical
Concerns
• Identification of Poverty Line
• Defining the Unit of Measurement
• Selecting the Indicator of Well-being
Measurement of Poverty 16

17. Defining the Unit of Measurement
 Household vs. Individual
 Adjusting for differences among HH
Adjusting for the age / gender of HH members
Adjusting for HH size
Measurement of Poverty 17

18. Defining the Unit of Measurement
• Example:
2 HH with monthly Y of $150
HH1 has 2 members…per capita Y = $75
HH2 has 3 members …per capita Y = $50
BUT:
• HH1 has 2 adult men
• HH2 has woman and 2 small children
Measurement of Poverty 18

19. Equivalence Scales and Economies of
Scale
• HH size is often measured in “adult
equivalent” units
each member of the HH counts as some fraction
of an adult male
Economies of scales can then be accounted for
by scaling the adult equivalent units
Measurement of Poverty 19

20. Equivalence Scales and Economies of
Scale
• Many different methodologies are followed
within two basic approaches
Fixed Scales
Estimated Scales
Measurement of Poverty 20

21. Fixed Scales
• Ex 1: Adult Equivalent Scale:
Adult Male = 1
Adult Female = 0.74
Child < 5 years = 0.6
• Ex 2: OECD Scale: AE=1+0.7*(A-1)+0.5*C
– First adult = 1
– Additional adults = 0.7
– Children < 14 = 0.5
Measurement of Poverty 21

22. Estimating AE Scales
• Based on examining HH data to see how
consumption varies with gender/age and size
Food share of expenditure is regressed on HH
size, HH composition
Measurement of Poverty 22

23. Examples of AE Estimated Scales
• Ex 1: Deaton and Meullbauer, Sri Lanka,
Indonesia
Adults = 1
Child 13-17 = 0.5
Child 7-12 = 0.3
Child < 7 = 0.2
Measurement of Poverty 23

24. Examples of AE Estimated Scales
• Ex 2: Deaton, India and Pakistan
– The AE value of adding another person to a HH
with 2 adults:
Age 0-4 = 0.48
Age 5-9 = 0.56
Age 10-14 = 0.60
Age 15-54 = 0.68
Measurement of Poverty 24

25. What is a HH?
• UN definition:
– “Group of people who eat together”
• But: how long must one be a resident to be counted
as part of a HH
– Students, migrant workers, etc.
Measurement of Poverty 25

26. Measurement of Poverty Practical
Concerns
• Identification of Poverty Line
• Defining the Unit of Measurement
• Selecting the Indicator of Well-being
Measurement of Poverty 26

27. Selecting the Indicator of
Well-being
• Monetary Measure of Welfare
Income
Expenditure
• Non-Monetary Measures of Welfare
Direct Measures
Subjective Measures
Measurement of Poverty 27

28. Income
• Definition: Y = C + ∆ in net worth
• Example
Assets start of year: $10K
Spending on consumption: $3K
Assets end of year: $11K
Annual Y: $4K
Measurement of Poverty 28

29. Problems with Income as Welfare
Measure
• Conceptual Problems
– Goal is to measure HH ability to meet basic
needs, but Y is just one factor
• access to credit, public services, access, etc. are other
factors that determine ability to meet basic needs
Measurement of Poverty 29

30. Problems with Income as Welfare
Measure
• Measurement Problems
– Understating of Y
Difficult to recall all of Y, especially when Y flow is
erratic as in the informal sector
Fear of tax collector
Illegally earned Y
Separating inputs from revenue in agriculture
Accounting for own consumption of output
Measurement of Poverty 30

31. Expenditure
• Generally preferred to Income
– Is more direct measure of what is consumed
– Less volatile than Y
• Consumption smoothing...
Measurement of Poverty 31

32. Consumption Smoothing
Income
Consumption Y
C
Time
Measurement of Poverty 32

33. Calculating Y or Expenditure
for HH
• How do we measure Y / Expenditure?
• What is included?
• NB: HH may be both producers and
consumers
Measurement of Poverty 33

34. Measuring Y and Expenditure
HH as Consumer
Household
Household Y Expenditure
 Wage Y  Food expenditure
 Agricultural Y  C of own-produced food
 Non-farm self-employment  Housing expenditure
 Rent and Imputed Rent  Non-food expenditure
 Net inter-HH transfers
 Other Y
Measurement of Poverty 34

35. Measuring Y and Expenditure
Household as Producer
Receipts Outgoing
 Revenue from sale of output  Cash expenditure on inputs
 Own-consumption for  In-kind expenditure on inputs
produced output
Measurement of Poverty 35

36. Calculating Y and Expenditure
• Must not include:
Inputs into HH production, like money spent on
seeds, fertilizer
Expenditure on investment, like purchase of
tools
Measurement of Poverty 36

37. Calculating Y and Expenditure
• Should include:
Housing for owner-occupied dwellings
Expenditure on durable goods
Measurement of Poverty 37

38. Non-Monetary Measure
of Welfare
• Direct Welfare Measures
Nutrition Poverty
Health Poverty
Education Poverty
Measurement of Poverty 38

39. Nutrition Poverty
• Input
– Example: Calories per day
• Outcomes
– Example: Malnutrition
Measurement of Poverty 39

40. Health Poverty
• Outcomes
– Ex: life expectancy, infection rates
• Inputs
– Ex: vaccination rates
Measurement of Poverty 40

41. Education Poverty
• Outcomes
– Ex: Literacy rates
• Inputs:
– Ex: Enrolment numbers
Measurement of Poverty 41

42. Subjective Measures
• HH may be asked directly about their welfare
• HH may be asked to establish minimum
standards
• Community indicators may be established
Measurement of Poverty 42

43. Poverty Measures
• We may want to measure poverty directly
instead of looking at Y and inequality
together
• The most commonly used poverty measures
are:
Head Count Index
Poverty Gap
Proportional Poverty Gap
Squared Poverty Gap
Measurement of Poverty 43

44. Head Count Index
• HCI = (# poor) / (population)
• Measures the “incidence” of poverty
– i.e. it tells us “How many poor”
Measurement of Poverty 44

45. Head Count Index
• Simplest and most commonly used measure
• Limitations:
Does not account for depth of poverty; i.e. it
does not tell us how far below the poverty line
the poor are.
• Advantages:
Simple to understand, straightforward
interpretation.
Additive across populations.
Measurement of Poverty 45

46. Regional Head Count Estimates
Extreme Poverty <$275/year
Millions of
HC People
SSA: .30 120
South Asia: .29 300
ME/NA: .21 40
LA / Car: .12 50
East Asia: .09 120
Measurement of Poverty 46

47. Regional Head Count Estimates
Moderate Poverty < $370/year
Millions of
HC People
SSA: .48 184
South Asia: .52 532
ME/NA: .31 60
LA / Car: .22 87
East Asia: .13 182
Measurement of Poverty 47

48. Absolute Poverty Gap
• PG = (# Poor) * (Y shortfall)
• PG = Σ(Z-Yi) ;
– where Z is PL, Yi is income of person i
• It tells us the total Y shortfall of the poor; i.e.
the absolute amount that would be needed
to raise all the poor up to the poverty line.
Measurement of Poverty 48

49. Absolute Poverty Gap
Poverty Gap
Y
PL
Population
(poorest to richest)
Measurement of Poverty 49

50. Absolute Poverty Gap
Y Y
Poverty
Gap
PL PL
Population Population
Relatively large Relatively small
poverty gap poverty gap
Measurement of Poverty 50

51. Proportional Poverty Gap
• PPG = (1/N)Σ{(Z-Yi)/Z}
• Measures the “depth” of poverty
• It gives some weight to how far below the
poverty line a poor individual is
– If a poor person’s income fall, the HC won’t
change, but the PPG will increase to reflect the
increase in the depth of poverty
Measurement of Poverty 51

52. Squared Poverty Gap(Foster-Greere
Thorbecke)
• PPG = (1/N)Σ{(Z-Yi)/Z}2
• Measures the “severity” of poverty
• Squares the difference between the poverty
line and each household’s income
– provides much greater weight to the poorest of
the poor because the farther the HH from the
poverty line, the greater the weight it is given
Measurement of Poverty 52

53. Poverty Measures
• Head Count • Income Distribution
• Proportional Poverty
Gap Y
• Squared Poverty Gap
• Absolute Poverty Gap
PL
Pop (poorest to richest)
Measurement of Poverty 53

54. Poverty Measures
• These first 3 poverty measures are often
referred to as the Foster-Greere-Thorbecke
family of indices
• They can all be written as:
– Pα= (1/N)Σ{(Z-Yi)/Z}α
• α=0 is HC
• α=1 is PPG
• α=2 is SPG
Measurement of Poverty 54

55. Poverty Measures from Mexico
HC PPG SPG
1984
Rural .90 .58 .42
Urban .72 .35 .21
1989
Rural .94 .62 .61
Urban .68 .32 .39
Measurement of Poverty 55

56. Human Development Index
• An attempt to account for some of the
limitations of using just income or
expenditure as a measure of welfare
• Tries to take seriously some of Sen’s
arguments about capabilities
– Sen argues that the goal is to increase
capabilities …to be well fed, educated, healthy
– These capabilities won’t always be perfectly
correlated with income
Measurement of Poverty 56

57. Income and Capabilities
Per Capita Share of Share of
Income Poorest 40% Richest 20%
Sri Lanka 2,990 22 39
Guatemala 3,350 8 63
Life Infant Adult
Expectancy Mortality Literacy
Sri Lanka 72 18 89
Guatemala 65 48 54
Measurement of Poverty 57

58. HDI
• Consists of 3 elements
• Life Expectancy
– Educational Attainment
2/3 Adult Literacy
1/3 School Enrolment
– Per Capita Income
Adjusted down for Y > $5K
• Each component scored on 0 - 1 scale
• Index is simple average of 3 components
Measurement of Poverty 58

59. Gender Development Index
• Motivated by inequality in the distribution of
resources across gender.
• Is there evidence that resources are
distributed unequally?
• The same 3 components as HDI, but gives
weight to relative equality in Y and
achievement of capabilities by gender.
Measurement of Poverty 59

60. Human Poverty Index
• Attempt by UNDP to take Sen’s capability
approach even more seriously
• Index combines 3 parts:
Vulnerability to early death
Access to education
Overall standard of living
• Health, water, nutrition
Measurement of Poverty 60

61. Measurement of Poverty
The secret of truth
is that there are no facts,
only stories.
- Joao Ubaldo Ribeira
Brazilian novelist
Measurement of Poverty 61