Poverty Comparisons

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.