Statistically Significant Changes in the Poverty-Rate, 1997-98 to 2002-03

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Statistically Significant Changes in the Poverty-Rate, 1997-98 to 2002-03

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Rodgers, J.R. () (University of Wollongong)

Abstract

Sampling variation should be taken into account when sample data are used to estimate changes in the poverty rate over time. This paper reports poverty rates and their standard errors, calculated using data from the 1997-98 and 2002-03 Surveys of Income and Housing, and tests whether the poverty rate in Australia has changed significantly over this time period. The results depend on where the equivalised poverty line is set and whether its real value is held constant. With a constant real poverty line, a decrease in the poverty rate is observed and, except at low poverty thresholds, the reduction is statistically significant. However, with a relative poverty line set equal to half the median, or half the mean, current income, a significant increase in the poverty rate is observed, which is due to an increase in the average real income of the Australian population between the two survey dates.

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Paper provided by School of Economics, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia in its series Economics Working Papers with number wp07-06.

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Length: 30 pages
Date of creation: 2007
Date of revision:
Handle: RePEc:uow:depec1:wp07-06

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Postal: School of Economics, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong NSW 2522 Australia
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Web page: http://www.uow.edu.au/commerce/econ/
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This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

NEP-ALL-2007-07-20 (All new papers)
NEP-URE-2007-07-20 (Urban & Real Estate Economics)

References listed on IDEAS
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Peter Saunders & Bruce Bradbury, 2006. "Monitoring Trends in Poverty and Income Distribution: Data, Methodology and Measurement," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 82(258), pages 341-364, 09. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
Peter Siminski & Peter Saunders & Bruce Bradbury, 2003. "Reviewing the Intertemporal Consistency of ABS Household Income Data through Comparisons with External Aggregates," Australian Economic Review, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, vol. 36(3), pages 333-349. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
David Johnson, 1987. "The Calculation and Use of Poverty Lines in Australia," Australian Economic Review, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, vol. 20(4), pages 45-55. [Downloadable!] (restricted)

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