Poverty Comparisions

First published in 1994. Drawing on a personal network, an economist can still relatively easily stay well informed in the narrow field in which he works, but to keep up with the development of economics as a whole is a much more formidable challenge. Economics are confronted with difficulties associated with the rapid development of their discipline. There is a risk of ‘balkanization’ in economics, which may not be favorable to its development. Fundamentals of Pure and Applied Economics has been created to meet this problem. Poverty comparisons ― such as assessments of whether poverty has increased, or where it is greatest ― are typically clouded in conceptual and methodological uncertainties. How should individual4 well-being’ be assessed in deciding who is poor? Is a household survey a reliable guide? Where should the poverty line be drawn, and does the choice matter? What poverty measure should be used in aggregating data on individual well-being? Does that choice matter? This monograph surveys the issues that need to be considered in answering these questions.

Martin Ravallion The World Bank, Washington DC, USA