Multidimensional and Intertemporal Poverty Measurement: Same Toolkit?

SANTOS, MARÍA EMMA; SETH, SUMAN

Manchester

Conferencia; CPRC International Conference 2010; 2010

Chronic Poverty Research Centre

The measurement of poverty in a single dimension - usually income - or over a single period of time is increasingly recognized inadequate as it provides only a narrow portrayal of what poverty truly is. Over the past few decades, the measurement of poverty has evolved in two directions. One direction has evolved by incorporating more than one dimension of well-being, known as multidimensional poverty measurement. The other has evolved by considering a single dimension of well-being over more than one period of time, known as intertemporal poverty measurement. However, the progress in these two branches of measurement has been made independently, without properly acknowledging the common challenges faced. This paper aims at connecting these two branches, addressing the commonalities and differences, and intends to provide a framework that encompasses both. We analyze two main approaches to identify the poor, based on two essentially different focus axioms. We also revise the motivation and meaning of weights in each context, we explore the types of transfer axioms, issues of substitutability versus complementarity between dimensions or incomes across different time periods, and the existence of .intermediate groups under certain identification criteria.