Definition of Poverty Index
Miscellanea / / July 04, 2021
By Florencia Ucha, on Feb. 2014
The index of poverty also called as human poverty index or poverty indicator is a statistical parameter that the United Nations (UN) has developed with the mission of measure the standard of living that prevails in the countries, that is, in this particular case it allows us to know from a number how many citizens live in poverty conditions.
Starting in 2010, the new multidimensional poverty index which is in charge of measuring the situation outlined above.
As with the index of human development is he United Nations Development Program (UNDP) the body in charge of preparing the poverty index.
The multidimensional poverty index offers us a comprehensive synthesis of the situation since it is consider several dimensions to elaborate it. It not only contemplates the salary that a person receives in a country but also the needs or deprivations to which that person is subjected due to their social condition. That is, it gives us a parameter of the intensity of poor that someone shows by analyzing three basic aspects of life, such as:
the education, health and standard of living.Meanwhile, together with each of these, about ten indicators that are grouped into the aforementioned aspects in order to finally be able to calculate this poverty index.
Regarding education, they analyze the years of schooling and the kids schooled or failing that if there is no access or if the school process was interrupted.
Regarding the healthcare infant mortality is estimated (if any child in the family has passed away), how is the nutrition (if there is access and if the adult or child has been malnourished).
And as regards thequality of life issues such as: access to electricity In the home; the sanitation conditions (if they have a bathroom in optimal conditions, if it is shared by several people or families); drinking water, if the household has it, or if not, what is the distance in which the nearest drinking water can be found; what are the conditions of the home's soil, if it has been cleaned and what material it is: earth, sand or manure; if the home has a stove with firewood, charcoal, or what is the condition; and if in the home there is access to material goods such as: television, radio, telephone, motorcycle, bicycle, among others.
It is worth noting that when the person does not have access to at least 30% of the indicators that we have listed above, they will be considered poor.
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