Capability Deprivation and the Relational Dimension of Poverty: Testing Universal Multidimensional Indexes

Abstract

Universal poverty indexes provide guidelines for how to understand and measure deprivation. However, depending on the dimensions and indicators used, indexes may omit certain forms of deprivation, while highlighting others. Our intention is to carry out a philosophical normative analysis of three of the major multidimensional poverty indexes, assessing the extent to which they are able to portray the deprivation of certain differently-positioned individuals. For this, we look at three cases that we consider relevant for revising universal poverty measures, and introduce the capability approach as the normative framework for our analysis of poverty (understood as capability deprivation). We then assess three multidimensional indexes (Human Poverty Index, Multidimensional Poverty Index and the York model) by how they measure capability deprivation. We consider, finally, that these universal indexes insufficiently portray the breadth of deprivation suffered in these cases, and suggest the inclusion of a relational dimension in poverty measurement as a way to improve this deficit.