Meaning versus measurement: why do 'economic' indicators of poverty still predominate?
Author(s)
Sumner, AndrewEditor(s)
Eade, DeborahPublication date
2007-02-01
Metadata
Show full item recordJournal
Development in PracticeDocument type
Journal articleLanguage
EnglishDescription
It is virtually undisputed that poverty is multi-dimensional. However, 'economic' or monetary measures of poverty still maintain a higher status in key development indicators and policy. This article is concerned with the apparent contradiction between the consensus over the meaning of poverty and the choice of methods with which to measure poverty in practice. A brief history of the meaning and measurement of poverty is given, and it is argued that 'economic' determinism, while it has gradually retreated from centrality in the meaning of poverty, has continued to dominate the measurement of poverty. This is followed by a section that contrasts the relative merits of 'economic' and 'non-economic' measures of poverty. The question is posed: why do 'economic' measures of poverty still have a higher status than non-economic measures?<p>This article is hosted by our co-publisher Taylor & Francis.</p>Pages
10ISSN
0961-4524EISSN
1364-9213ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1080/09614520601092485