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Core Poverty, Basic Capabilities and Vagueness: An Application to the South African Context

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  • David A. Clark
  • University of Manchester
  • Mozaffar Qizilbash
  • University of East Anglia

Abstract

This paper applies a framework which addresses the vagueness of poverty. The `core poor` are those who are unambiguously poor. In applying the framework we use Sen`s capability approach and results from a recent survey. These results suggest that some South Africans set tough standards for someone to qualify as poor. Even by these standards, our lower bound estimate of core poverty is higher than existing estimates of the `most deprived` and `ultra-poor`. This result is sensitive to the criteria used in applying the framework, though other results are more robust. While there is evidence that respondents adapted to their living conditions, it was not merely those who were deprived in specific dimensions who endorsed very low cut-offs in those dimensions.

Suggested Citation

  • David A. Clark & University of Manchester & Mozaffar Qizilbash & University of East Anglia, 2005. "Core Poverty, Basic Capabilities and Vagueness: An Application to the South African Context," Economics Series Working Papers GPRG-WPS-026, University of Oxford, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:oxf:wpaper:gprg-wps-026
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mozaffar Qizilbash, 2002. "A note on the measurement of poverty and vulnerability in the South African context," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 14(6), pages 757-772.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Alexander O'Riordan, 2020. "Technology and Welfare - Investigating the relationship between the ownership of technology-based assets and subjective measures of well-being," Working Papers 05/2020, Stellenbosch University, Department of Economics.
    3. Leßmann, Ortrud, 2011. "Empirische Studien zum Capability Ansatz auf der Grundlage von Befragungen: Ein Überblick," UFZ Discussion Papers 4/2011, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Division of Social Sciences (ÖKUS).
    4. Lessmann, Ortrud, 2012. "Applying the Capability Approach Empirically: An Overview with Special Attention to Labor," management revue. Socio-economic Studies, Rainer Hampp Verlag, vol. 23(2), pages 98-118.
    5. D. F. Meyer & E. Keyser, 2016. "Validation and Testing of the Lived Poverty Index Scale (LPI) in a Poor South African Community," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 129(1), pages 147-159, October.

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