Policy implications of using subjective poverty measurement
Rather than to relying on market-based approaches that aim to increase people’s income or expenditure, the subjective poverty approach offers better informed, more comprehensive and participatory recommendations for poverty reduction.
Considering people’s own understanding of wellbeing offers a view of poverty that objective income or expenditure measures do not cover. Subjective poverty measures assert that poor people have a far better ability to assess their wellbeing than most development professionals. They also highlight dimensions of wellbeing that are most valued by the poor.
Considering people’s own understanding of wellbeing offers a view of poverty that objective income or expenditure measures do not cover. Subjective poverty measures assert that poor people have a far better ability to assess their wellbeing than most development professionals. They also highlight dimensions of wellbeing that are most valued by the poor.
Recommended reading
- Subjective measures of well-being
- ( R. Veenhoven / World Institute for Development Economics Research (WIDER) , 2004)
- This paper explores the issue of subjective measures of well being and asks whether they can be used in policy making, particularly in developing countries. In distinguishing between 'subjective subst...
- Experiences of Uganda's PPA in implementing and monitoring poverty reduction
- ( R. Ssewakiryange / International Institute for Environment and Development , 2005)
- Uganda’s Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP) incorporates poor people’s voices and perspectives. This paper focuses on the lessons learnt in the implementation of the PEAP by using exam...
- Does subjective social status predict health and change in health status better than objective status?
- ( A. Singh-Manoux;M.G. Marmot;N.E. Adler / American Psychosomatic Society , 2005)
- Is a persons’ health status better predicted by their subjective or objective socioeconomic status? This article examines this question and finds that: ...
- Is there a divergence between objective measures and subjective perceptions of poverty trends? Evidence from West and Central Africa
- ( Q. Wodon / World Bank , 2007)
- Certain African countries have experienced economic growth in recent years, yet people do not report that their poverty situation has improved. This brief asks to what extent is there a divergence bet...
