VoxDev Development Economics
S4 Ep25: Rethinking how we measure extreme poverty
Jun 26, 2024
Charles Kenny discusses rethinking the extreme poverty line and proposes alternative ways to measure poverty effectively. He explores the origins, methodology, and evolution of measuring extreme poverty, suggesting updates like consistent calculations over time and a deprivation measure based on Sustainable Development Goals for monitoring progress.
24:13
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Quick takeaways
- The concept of a poverty line is crucial to highlight global deprivation beyond a dollar consumption measure.
- The extreme poverty line has effectively raised awareness but may require adjustment for eradicating poverty effectively.
Deep dives
Importance of Poverty Line Awareness
It is crucial to have a poverty line to highlight the level of deprivation in a wealthy world, moving beyond a dollar consumption measure. The concept of a poverty line dates back to the 19th century, originating from efforts to understand the impact of industrialization on the quality of life for the poorest. The World Bank introduced the extreme poverty line in the 1990s to address concerns about increasing poverty due to structural adjustments. This measure has been effective in raising global awareness and shaping development discussions.
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