INDICATORS OF RURAL POVERTY IN THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA - MULTIDIMENSIONAL POVERTY ANALYSIS

Abstract

Rural poverty presents an escalating problem for post-communist countries struggling with perpetual transition towards market economy. As a country deriving from such economic background, Republic of Macedonia is classified as one of the poorest countries in Europe. The rural population in the country is faced with different obstacles such as: limited access to institutions, infrastructure, finances, and other aspects which not only impede these population’s living conditions but also obstruct the development and growth of the rural areas. In order to provide detailed description of the rural poverty situation as well as to identify the vulnerable and depraved group in the rural areas in the Republic of Macedonia, this paper represents an initial record of the poverty conditions in the rural areas. The poverty features are presented through the multidimensional poverty analytical tool and the indicators and dimensions of poverty on micro and macro (country) level in order to describe the socio-economic, environmental, political and institutional context. The comprehensive multi-dimensional analysis of the poverty dimensions in the Republic of Macedonia gives overview of the rural poverty situation and highlights several groups, suffering from multiple deprivations such as rural woman and agriculture households, which are part of an extremely vulnerable group, with the highest risk of going under the poverty base lines.