Abstract
This paper contests the major emphasis placed on the multidimensional nature of poverty measurement. Instead, it argues that poverty pictures created by different measures and at different units of analysis tend to converge. This argument is derived from a comparison of poverty pictures created using income and asset-based measures at the national and household level in five South African Development Community countries. Although multidimensional measures have value in illuminating subtle differences, the findings indicate a single dimension of poverty that runs throughout all the measures and levels of analysis. However, despite the single poverty picture provided by different measures, the abandonment of these different measures is not supported. Multidimensional measures provide insight into particular elements of poverty that is useful and relevant to poverty interventions.
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Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the HSRC, and especially Dr. Stephen Rule, for making this data available to us for secondary analysis. The second author also acknowledges financial support from the Oppenheimer Foundation and the NRF, which made his participation in the research possible.
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von Maltzahn, R., Durrheim, K. Is poverty multidimensional? A comparison of income and asset based measures in five Southern African countries.. Soc Indic Res 86, 149–162 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-007-9105-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-007-9105-7