Poverty in South Africa: Statistical inference for decomposable poverty measures

The measurement of poverty involves two problems: identifying the poor and constructing an index to measure the intensity of poverty. The headcount ratio is one of the widely used indices for the measurement of poverty. This article considers some of the other decomposable (i.e. additively separable) poverty measures. The importance of this property (decomposability) and of subgroup consistency for a poverty measure is highlighted. Since most of these poverty measures are estimated on the basis of sample surveys, the statistical significance of the observed differences is tested using the distribution-free approach proposed by Kakwani (1993, Review of Economics and Statistics , 75: 632-40). The Income and Expenditure Survey conducted in 1995 by Statistics South Africa, then called Central Statistical Service, is used in the study.     

Poverty and protectionism

The United States had a trade deficit of $170 billion in 1987 and, even though the value of the dollar has been declining, the deficit has shown no consistent pattern of improvement. The magnitude and persistence of the trade imbalance has led to a great deal of discussion of its impact on the U.S. economy and of policies that might be used to correct the imbalance. One major consideration that is often overlooked is the distributional and equity effect of the trade situation on the poor. While some advocates embrace protectionist policies as a means of “saving” jobs for low-income Americans, others argue that these measures raise the cost of goods used by the poor with no guarantee that jobs are actually saved. The following article reviews the available evidence on the position of low-income Americans under a policy of protectionism.     

基于能力贫困与权利贫困视角的我国城市贫困原因分析——以甘肃省为例

城市贫困问题已成为中国改革和发展中急需解决的重要问题,治理城市贫困关系到稳定大局,实现“共同富裕”的发展目标,也是全面建设小康社会的必然要求。本文从能力贫困和权利贫困角度出发,结合甘肃省具体情况,对我国城市贫困原因进行了分析,并提出一些建议。     

Subective poverty line definitions

Summary In this paper we will deal with definitions ofsubjective poverty lines. To measure a poverty threshold value in terms of household income, which separates the poor from the non-poor, we take into account the opinions of all people in society. Three subjective methods will be discussed and compared,viz., the Leyden Poverty Line (LPL), the Subjective Poverty Line (SPL) and the Centre for Social Policy Poverty Line (CSP). In the empirical part of the paper we compute the average poverty line and a few corresponding characteristics for each definition.     

贫困问题与广东扶贫措施浅析

如何搞好扶贫工作是解决“三农”问题的重要内容，本文通过贫困问题的解读和广东扶贫措施的回顾和分析，使我们了解什么是贫困，扶贫的重点应放在哪里，以及应注意避免哪些误区。     

社会保障制度中贫困线和贫困率的测算

确定合理的贫困标准和贫困线是建立社会保障制度的重要一环。本文从贫困的定义与分类出发,论述了计算贫困线和贫困率的几种主要方法,然后提出了利用收入分布函数计算贫困线和贫困率的新方法。本文还同时提出了一种拟合收入分组数据的分布函数,效果十分理想。收入分布函数的拟合是本文所提出的算法之关键,计算结果的准确性直接取决于分布函数的拟合质量。本文将生物学中常用的逻辑期蒂函数稍加变形应用于收入分布函数的拟合取得了理想效果,并给出了计算这例。     

Targeting Poverty

Poverty reduction has been adopted as the official objective of many multilateral and bilateral development institutions. This paper argues that this focus needs to be clarified, especially the distinction between absolute and relative poverty. It argues that reduction of absolute poverty should be one of the objectives of foreign assistance, but not the sole objective. First, measures of absolute poverty are highly limited in scope. Second, the resources of foreign aid are fungible when recipient governments reallocate their own resources in response to the aid. Third, bilateral aid should reflect all the foreign policy objectives of the donor country.     

Assessing Poverty Trends in Indonesia by International Poverty Lines

Indonesia has made well-documented and drastic progress in raising average incomes and reducing poverty. This article adds to the literature by providing a complementary perspective of poverty between 1984 and 2011. We discuss the evolution of poverty in Indonesia using international poverty lines—$1.25 per person per day (in 2005 purchasing power parity dollars) and $2.00 per day, and we add $10.00 per day. We generate estimates of poverty since 1984 and make projections based on various trends in growth and inequality. We find that Indonesia has the potential to become a high-income country by around 2025 and end $1.25-per-day and $2.00-perday poverty by 2030, but this will require strong economic growth and favourable changes in distribution. Looking ahead, the end of poverty in Indonesia may mean that a large proportion of the population will remain vulnerable to poverty for some time to come, suggesting that public policy priorities will need to balance insurance and risk-management mechanisms with more ‘traditional’ poverty policy.     

Rural Income Poverty in Western China Is Water Poverty

I. IntroductionThe elimination of poverty lies at the heart of development economics, and providesthe main justification for policies of promoting economic growth and development allover the world. Although arduous efforts have been devoted to poverty reductionworldwide, about 1.2 of 6 billion live on less than $1 a day (World Bank, 2002). AlthoughChina has reduced its poor population from 250 million in 1978 to 30 million in 2003, anoverall reduction in world poverty still depends on progre…     

保险扶贫的减贫效果分析

贫困问题是当今世界最尖锐的社会问题之一,为了解决我国的贫困问题,精准扶贫概念已提出五年有余,保险扶贫作为精准扶贫的一大利器,其成效如何值得关注。本文利用2013年至2016年我国30个省(市、直辖区)的统计数据,运用固定效应模型对保险扶贫的减贫效果进行分析,研究发现保险业的发展确能有效促进贫困人口规模的减少,保险扶贫的相关手段应进一步推广,打造符合贫困群体实际需求的保险扶贫产品和服务体系,为实现全面脱贫奠定坚实基础。     

Population and Poverty in Africa

This paper sets out the position in Sub-Saharan Africa [SSA] regarding poverty and population. Africa has as much danger of starvation and depopulation [due to Aids] as of over population. The paper sets out a model of poverty based on the twin concepts of capabilities and entitlements. This is micro level approach and points to the importance of health and education as well as physical assets in analysing poverty. Issues of gender are always kept central. Income, access to public goods, physical assets and human capital are the four determinants of the status of any individual visavis poverty. In terms of access to public goods the paper develops a new measure of poverty based on daily calorie supply, access to clean water and access to health care. It would seem that nearly 90% of the population in 25 SSA countries or as many as 350 million can be counted as poor. Poverty is influenced by population most significantly if the household cannot afford education and health for its children. Other effects of population on poverty are thought to be transient. Poverty affects population by the complex interaction of the desire for children as insurance but an inability to ensure their survival. Population problems are most acute in societies which are developing enough to cut death rates drastically but not yet adjusted to lower infant mortality to modify their child bearing behaviour. Policy issues are discussed in the last section which highlights once again the central importance of education, health and land reforms.     

贫困与不平等的度量方法评介

贫困与不平等的研究是国内外比较热门的领域。本文评介了度量贫困与不平等指标及其分解方法，指出了构建贫困指标的缺陷和误差，并论述了国内关于贫困研究的新进展。     

Population and Poverty in Africa

This paper sets out the position in Sub-Saharan Africa [SSA] regarding poverty and population. Africa has as much danger of starvation and depopulation [due to Aids] as of over population. The paper sets out a model of poverty based on the twin concepts of capabilities and entitlements. This is micro level approach and points to the importance of health and education as well as physical assets in analysing poverty. Issues of gender are always kept central. Income, access to public goods, physical assets and human capital are the four determinants of the status of any individual visavis poverty. In terms of access to public goods the paper develops a new measure of poverty based on daily calorie supply, access to clean water and access to health care. It would seem that nearly 90% of the population in 25 SSA countries or as many as 350 million can be counted as poor. Poverty is influenced by population most significantly if the household cannot afford education and health for its children. Other effects of population on poverty are thought to be transient. Poverty affects population by the complex interaction of the desire for children as insurance but an inability to ensure their survival. Population problems are most acute in societies which are developing enough to cut death rates drastically but not yet adjusted to lower infant mortality to modify their child bearing behaviour. Policy issues are discussed in the last section which highlights once again the central importance of education, health and land reforms.     

精准扶贫框架下的城市贫困治理

贫困问题是全球面临的重大难题,亦是古今中外治国理政的大事。我国为响应全球治理贫困的需求,同时为化解国内严峻的贫困形势,2013年在农村地区开始实行"精准扶贫"战略,实践取得了巨大成功。反观城市贫困人口的数量却一直居高不下,不仅缺乏精准化救助理念与形式,而且在治理主体与体系方面也缺少精准性,为实现城市与乡村的协调发展,也为实现共同富裕的目标,在分析精准扶贫对城市反贫困的契合基础上,欲运用精准扶贫作为指导,从救助理念、形式、主体、体系这四个方面进行精准化设计,实现精准性城市贫困治理。