In: Economics
Poverty is often referred to as a multidimensional concept. Explain why you agree or disagree with this statement.
ii. In which areas are there broad agreement and disagreement on the definition of poverty?
What is multidimensional poverty?
Poverty is often defined by one-dimensional measures – usually based on income. But no single indicator can capture the multiple dimensions of poverty.
Multidimensional poverty encompasses the various deprivations experienced by poor people in their daily lives such as poor health, lack of education, inadequate living standards, disempowerment, poor quality of work, the threat of violence, and living in areas that are environmentally hazardous, among others.
A multidimensional measure of poverty can incorporate a range of indicators that capture the complexity of this phenomena in order to inform policies aimed at reducing poverty and deprivation in a country. Depending on the context of a country and the purpose of the measure, different indicators can be chosen to reflect the needs and priorities of a nation, as well as its constituent regions, districts, provinces, etc.
Why use a multidimensional approach?