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Estimates of Poverty and Social Exclusion in Australia: A Multidimensional Approach

Author

Listed:
  • Rosanna Scutella

    (Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne and Brotherhood of St Laurence)

  • Roger Wilkins

    (Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne)

  • Weiping Kostenko

    (Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne)

Abstract

We measure the extent of poverty and social exclusion in Australia using data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey. For each individual, we construct a measure of social exclusion that recognises its multidimensionality, including its potential variability in depth at a point in time and in persistence over time. We distinguish seven dimensions or domains, as proposed in Scutella et al. (2009): material resources; employment; education and skills; health and disability; social; community; and personal safety. For each of these seven domains, several indicators of social exclusion are produced. A simple ‘sum-score’ method is then used to estimate the extent or depth of exclusion, with our measure a function of both the number of domains in which exclusion is experienced and the number of indicators of exclusion present within each domain. Sensitivity of findings to alternative weighting regimes for the indicators and to alternative methods, proposed by Capellari and Jenkins (2007), is examined. Persistence of exclusion is also briefly considered. Our exclusion measure identifies 20 to 30 per cent of the Australian population aged 15 years and over as experiencing ‘marginal exclusion’ at any given point in time. Four to six per cent are ‘deeply excluded’, and less than one per cent are ‘very deeply excluded’. We find that, although there are commonalities in the demographic composition of the socially excluded and the income poor, there are also some important differences. For example, persons 65 years and over represent a much smaller share of the most ‘excluded’ group than they do of the ‘poorest’; and couple and single families with children represent a larger share of the excluded than they do of the poor.

Suggested Citation

  • Rosanna Scutella & Roger Wilkins & Weiping Kostenko, 2009. "Estimates of Poverty and Social Exclusion in Australia: A Multidimensional Approach," Melbourne Institute Working Paper Series wp2009n26, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne.
  • Handle: RePEc:iae:iaewps:wp2009n26
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Francisco Azpitarte, 2014. "Was Pro-Poor Economic Growth in Australia for the Income-Poor? And for the Multidimensionally-Poor?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 117(3), pages 871-905, July.
    2. Francesca Giambona & Erasmo Vassallo, 2014. "Composite Indicator of Social Inclusion for European Countries," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 116(1), pages 269-293, March.
    3. Arturo Martinez & Francisco Perales, 2017. "The Dynamics of Multidimensional Poverty in Contemporary Australia," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 130(2), pages 479-496, January.
    4. Abdul Hameed & Zara Qaiser, 2019. "Estimating Social Exclusion in Rural Pakistan: A Contribution to Social Development Policies," Business & Economic Review, Institute of Management Sciences, Peshawar, Pakistan, vol. 11(1), pages 103-122, March.
    5. Aaron Nicholas & Ranjan Ray, 2012. "Duration and Persistence in Multidimensional Deprivation: Methodology and Australian Application," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 88(280), pages 106-126, March.
    6. Sinéad Keogh & Stephen O’Neill & Kieran Walsh, 2021. "Composite Measures for Assessing Multidimensional Social Exclusion in Later Life: Conceptual and Methodological Challenges," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 155(2), pages 389-410, June.
    7. Dajung Jun & Matt Sutton, 2021. "Trends in Health Poverty in Australia, 2001-2018," Melbourne Institute Working Paper Series wp2021n25, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne.
    8. Francisco Azpitarte, 2012. "Was Economic Growth in Australia Good for the Income-Poor? and for the Multidimensionally-Poor?," Working Papers 278, ECINEQ, Society for the Study of Economic Inequality.
    9. Valerio Pellegrini & Valeria De Cristofaro & Marco Salvati & Mauro Giacomantonio & Luigi Leone, 2021. "Social Exclusion and Anti-Immigration Attitudes in Europe: The mediating role of Interpersonal Trust," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 155(2), pages 697-724, June.
    10. Hameed, Abdul & Qaiser, Zara, 2017. "Estimating Sustainable Development and Social Exclusion in Rural Pakistan," MPRA Paper 84973, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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