Poverty Dynamics: Measurement and Understanding from an Interdisciplinary Perspective

Abstract

This paper introduces a significant new multidisciplinary collection of studies of poverty dynamics, presenting the reader with the latest thinking by a group of researchers who are leaders in their respective disciplines. It argues that there are three main fronts on which progress must be made if we are to dramatically deepen the understanding of why poverty occurs, and significantly improve the effectiveness of poverty reduction policies. First, poverty research needs to focus on poverty dynamics-over the life-course, across generations and between different social groups. Second, there is a need to move efforts to measure poverty dynamics beyond mere income and consumption to more multidimensional concepts and measures of poverty. This is increasingly common in static analyses but is rare in work on poverty dynamics. Third, at the same time there is a growing consensus that a thorough understanding of poverty and poverty reduction requires bridging the gap between disciplines through interdisciplinary approaches that combine qualitative and quantitative methods in measurement and analysis.

Understanding poverty dynamics in Kenya

“…A useful overview of this body of work is provided in Addison et al, 2009. Several recent studies use an explicit growth model and consumption or expenditure measures to study rural household-level poverty dynamics (Jalan and Ravallion, 2004;Jayne et al, 2003;Deininger and Okidi, 2003;Dercon, 2004;Baulch and Hoddinott, 2000). Carter and Barrett (2006) argue that asset-based approaches have several advantages over income-based measures, and they do not impose a model of the underlying growth mechanism.…”

Poverty Transitions and Trigger Events across EU Groups of Countries: Evidence from EU-SILC

“…Poverty is not a fixed condition, but a complex phenomenon that develops over time. As many scholars argue (e.g., Jenkins, 2011;Addison et al, 2009), accounting for the effects of time is crucial in developing a complete picture of poverty and in designing effective policies. Three issues can be analysed from a longitudinal perspective (Jenkins, 2000;Riegg et al, 2008): (i) the duration of poverty spells, (ii) the recurrence of poverty spells and (iii) the determinants of poverty transitions.…”

Evaluating the Household Level Outcomes of Community Based Natural Resource Management: the Tchuma Tchato Project and Kwandu Conservancy

“…Each indicator was therefore measured both objectively and subjectively. The subjective data collected related to 2 time periods, the time of the survey and 10 years earlier, to deal with the lack of baseline socioeconomic data at both sites (Kingdon and Knight 2004, Addison et al 2008, Bamberger 2009) and to determine whether there were attitudinal differences in the subjective measures of 2 the groups. To minimize recall bias and associated issues by asking about absolute levels or quantities for these indicators, respondents were asked whether the household status 10 years earlier with respect to each indicator was worse than, better than, or the same as it was at the time of the survey.…”