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Measuring Multidimensional Poverty in Latin America: Previous Experience and the Way Forward

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  • Maria Emma Santos

Abstract

This paper states the need to design a multidimensional poverty index for the Latin America region (LA-MPI) that can monitor poverty trends in a cross-country comparable way, yet is also relevant to the particular regional context. We review the region’s rich experience with multidimensional poverty measurement, as well as Europe’s experiences with multidimensional measurement. We set a number of requirements for the LA-MPI to satisfy and specify the methodological criterions necessary to fulfil such requirements. Drawing from the review, we outline an LA-MPI composed of five dimensions: basic consumptions, education, health, housing and basic services, and work. We list the indicators within those dimensions that are desirable, as well as what indicators are feasible given existing data constraints.

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  • Maria Emma Santos, 2014. "Measuring Multidimensional Poverty in Latin America: Previous Experience and the Way Forward," OPHI Working Papers 66, Queen Elizabeth House, University of Oxford.
    • Handle: RePEc:qeh:ophiwp:ophiwp066
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    2. Verónica Amarante & Maira Colacce, 2022. "Multidimensional Poverty Among Older People in Five Latin American Countries," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 159(3), pages 945-965, February.
    3. Sebastián Burgos Dávila & Fernando Cando Ortega, 2016. "Multidimensional poverty: an index for Ecuador using Alkire and Foster methodology," Economía, Instituto de Investigaciones Económicas y Sociales (IIES). Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Sociales. Universidad de Los Andes. Mérida, Venezuela, vol. 41(42), pages 11-52, july-dece.
    4. Paul A. Ervin & Lyliana Gayoso de Ervin & Jose R. Molinas Vega & Flavia G. Sacco, 2018. "Multidimensional Poverty in Paraguay: Trends from 2000 to 2015," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 140(3), pages 1035-1076, December.
    5. María Emma Santos & Jerónimo Etcheverry, 2018. "Pobreza Multidimensional en Bahía Blanca: 2004-2017," Ensayos de Política Económica, Departamento de Investigación Francisco Valsecchi, Facultad de Ciencias Económicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina., vol. 2(6), pages 35-70, Octubre.
    6. Bronfman, Javier, 2014. "Beyond Income: A Study of Multidimensional Poverty in Chile," MPRA Paper 63256, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Yanlin Yang & Chenyu Fu, 2019. "Inclusive Financial Development and Multidimensional Poverty Reduction: An Empirical Assessment from Rural China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-17, March.
    8. Maira Colacce & Victoria Tenenbaum, 2017. "Un análisis de la evolución de la pobreza multidimensional en la infancia y adolescencia en Uruguay entre 2006 y 2014," Estudios Económicos, El Colegio de México, Centro de Estudios Económicos, vol. 32(2), pages 171-212.
    9. Maria Emma Santos & Pablo Villatoro & Xavier Mancero & Pascual Gerstenfeld, 2015. "A Multidimensional Poverty Index for Latin America," OPHI Working Papers 79, Queen Elizabeth House, University of Oxford.

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