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Defining Poverty Lines As A Fraction Of Central Tendency

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  • Christophe Muller

    (Universidad de Alicante)

Abstract

We show under lognormality that, when the Gini coefficient is stable over time, defining the poverty line as a fraction of a central tendency of the living standard distribution restricts the evolution of the poverty measures to be stable. That is, poverty does not change if the Gini coefficient does not change. Moreover, when the Gini coefficient slightly changes, most of the poverty change can be considered a change in inequality. Then, the consequences of using different poverty lines are analysed. Thus, important features in studies of poverty change based on these lines may result from methodological choices rather than from economic mechanisms.

Suggested Citation

  • Christophe Muller, 2005. "Defining Poverty Lines As A Fraction Of Central Tendency," Working Papers. Serie AD 2005-13, Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Económicas, S.A. (Ivie).
    • Handle: RePEc:ivi:wpasad:2005-13
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Marcelo Arbex & Enlinson Mattos, 2010. "Poverty and the Optimal General Income Tax-cum-Audit Policy," Working Papers 02-2010, Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Economia, Administração e Contabilidade de Ribeirão Preto.
    2. John Paolo Rosales Rivera, 2022. "A nonparametric approach to understanding poverty in the Philippines: Evidence from the Family Income and Expenditure Survey," Poverty & Public Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 14(3), pages 242-267, September.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Measurement and Analysis of Poverty; Income Distribution; Personal Income Distribution;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I32 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Measurement and Analysis of Poverty
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution

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