Incidence Of Poverty Research Articles

Assessing catastrophic health expenditure and impoverishment in adult asthma care: a cross-sectional study of patients attending six public health clinics in Klang District, Malaysia

BackgroundIn Malaysia, asthma is a common chronic respiratory illness. Poor asthma control may increase out-of-pocket payment for asthma care, leading to financial hardships Malaysia provides Universal Health Coverage for the population with low user fees in the public health system to reduce financial hardship. We aimed to determine out-of-pocket expenditure on outpatient care for adult patients with asthma visiting government-funded public health clinics. We examined the catastrophic impact and medical impoverishment of these expenses on patients and households in Klang District, Malaysia.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional face-to-face questionnaire survey carried out in six government-funded public health clinics in Klang District, Malaysia. We collected demographic, socio-economic profile, and outpatient asthma-related out-of-pocket payments from 1003 adult patients between July 2019 and January 2020. Incidence of catastrophic health expenditure was estimated as the proportion of patients whose monthly out-of-pocket payments exceeded 10% of their monthly household income. Incidence of poverty was calculated as the proportion of patients whose monthly household income fell below the poverty line stratified for the population of the Klang District. The incidence of medical impoverishment was estimated by the change in the incidence of poverty after out-of-pocket payments were deducted from household income. Predictors of catastrophic health expenditure were determined using multivariate regression analysis.ResultsWe found the majority (80%) of the public health clinic attendees were from low-income groups, with 41.6% of households living below the poverty line. About two-thirds of the attendees reported personal savings as the main source of health payment. The cost of transportation and complementary-alternative medicine for asthma were the main costs incurred. The incidences of catastrophic expenditure and impoverishment were 1.69% and 0.34% respectively. The only significant predictor of catastrophic health expenditure was household income. Patients in the higher income quintiles (Q2, Q3, Q4) had lower odds of catastrophic risk than the lowest quintile (Q1). Age, gender, ethnicity, and poor asthma control were not significant predictors.ConclusionThe public health system in Malaysia provides financial risk protection for adult patients with asthma. Although patients benefited from the heavily subsidised public health services, this study highlighted those in the lowest income quintile still experienced financial catastrophe and impoverishment, and the risk of financial catastrophe was significantly greater in this group. It is crucial to ensure health equity and protect patients of low socio-economic groups from financial hardship.

Nexus between participation in nonfarm enterprises and poverty among rural farm households: evidence from Nigeria

PurposeDespite a reduction in poverty the global population in 2015, the incidence of poverty remains very high in Sub-Saharan African countries. Most of the countries in the region are agrarian, with most of their population residing in rural areas, and a majority of the poor in the region are found in Nigeria. This study examined the nexus between participation in nonfarm enterprises (NFEs) and poverty among rural farm households in Nigeria and across the six geopolitical zones.Design/methodology/approachThe Nigerian Living Standard Survey (NLSS) conducted in 2018–2019 by the National Bureau of Statistics was used. We made use of 13,440 farm households with useful information for the purpose of this study. The sample comprises 6,885 households that participated in NFEs and 6,555 nonparticipating households. The data were analyzed with Foster, Greer, and Thorbecke (FGT) (1984) metrics, probit, and fractional probit models at p = 0.05.FindingsThe incidence of poverty was lower among the participating households than in the nonparticipating households. Participation in NFEs had a mitigating effect on poverty. We also established that zonal differentials in poverty rates exist among households in all the analyses. Participation in NFEs was influenced by individual, household, and institutional factors and was also able to explain the depth of poverty among the respondents.Practical implicationsIt is suggested that poverty alleviation policies should be targeted at improving access to nonfarm economic activities by rural farm households residing in vulnerable geopolitical zones.Originality/valueThis study is the first attempt to profile household poverty based on the type of NFEs they are involved in. The study also provides an insight into the effect of the state of residence on zonal poverty models, which is expedient if the country must achieve Sustainable Development Goal 1 on the eradication of poverty everywhere.Peer reviewThe peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-06-2023-0493

The Factors Affecting Poverty in Malaysia: Macroeconomic Perspectives

The poverty issue is important because it is the first goal of the SDG in Malaysia. Since income level is not a reliable indication of poverty because it does not consider someone to be living in poverty if their income is below the poverty line. Based on previous literature, the researcher recognises the deficiency. Due to a lack of data and studies from earlier studies and literature reviews in Malaysia, it is still unclear how inflation, unemployment, and economic growth are affected by poverty. Therefore, this paper provides the conceptual review on how the macroeconomic factors affect the poverty incidence in Malaysia. However, the study examines the association between poverty which inflation, unemployment and economic growth using multiple regression estimators. Results show that inflation, unemployment and economic growth has a positive significant relationship with poverty incidence in Malaysia.

Sustainability of Moderating Role of Financial Inclusion and Institutional Quality in the Nexus Between Incidence of Energy Poverty and Government Expenditure: Evidence from Sub-Saharan African Countries

Sustainability of Moderating Role of Financial Inclusion and Institutional Quality in the Nexus Between Incidence of Energy Poverty and Government Expenditure: Evidence from Sub-Saharan African Countries

Multidimensional Poverty Among Women in the Ibadan South West Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT: Poverty remains a serious problem in Nigeria; women are among those mostly affected and are often deprived in many ways. This paper uses the multidimensional approach to examine poverty levels among women in Ibadan South West Local Government Area, Oyo State. Primary data was obtained from a sample of 393 women across the population density areas on socio-economic characteristics and poverty indicators (health, education and standard of living). The Alkire-Foster multidimensional approach was used to estimate the multidimensional poverty index (MPI) for the sampled women. The weights assigned to these poverty dimensions were generated using the multiple correspondence analysis. The MPI for each woman were categorized as abject poor (deprived in at least two dimensions), moderate poor (deprived in one dimension) and non-poor (not deprived in any dimension). The mean age of the women was 30.8±6.7 years. One-third of the respondents were mostly artisans (30.0%) and traders (26.5%), and 52.2% had completed secondary education. About 23.0% of women were deprived in education, 61.0% in health and 70.4% in standard of living. Based on location, the study indicated that the women in the medium and high density areas are mostly deprived in the different dimensions of poverty. When the poverty cut off K= 1, poverty incidence is 94% and 51.7% of the women were multidimensional poor as against 28% poverty incidence and 19.6% poor women when k=3 using the Alkire-Foster Multidimensional methodology. This implies that when women are deprived in at least one dimension; 51.7% are multidimensional poor. More than half of the respondents (51.0%) were categorized as moderately poor, 26.0% were abject poor while 23.2% were non-poor. This study revealed high poverty levels among women in Ibadan South West Local Government Area. Deprivation in standard of living and health in the three areas could be improved upon through the concerted effort of the government with appropriate ministries by initiating more productive and empowerment programs to improve their purchasing power and disseminating educative information that will improve their nutritional status through health talks to reduce the level of multidimensional poverty in urban locations respectively.

The dynamics of multidimensional educational poverty

Education is a cornerstone in promoting the overall welfare of individuals and plays a pivotal role in shaping their lives. As the developing world grapples with the multifaceted challenges of poverty, there is a growing emphasis on evaluating poverty from a multidimensional perspective. Therefore, this study estimates the Educational Poverty Index (EPI). To construct the EPI, Alkire and Foster's (2007, 2011) methodology was used with data from the Pakistan Panel Household Survey. We also estimated the dynamics of educational poverty using logistic regression. The results show that the EPI declined from 0.24 in 2001 to 0.21 in 2010. Similarly, the intensity decreased from 0.42 to 0.30. However, the incidence of educational poverty increased from 0.58 to 0.69. At the provincial level, there was a reduction in educational poverty and intensity across all provinces. However, the rate of decline in the EPI and intensity was comparatively higher in Baluchistan than in other provinces. Most of the population belonged to the transitory poor category (0.47). Other dynamic factors such as the household head's age, education, family size, disability, and land acres also play vital roles in moving into or out of poverty. Our study reveals numerous dimensions that can increase household educational poverty. The government should be vigilant while preparing the policy and must consider the multiple dimensions of a household to eradicate educational poverty.

Financial inclusion of urban agro-processors: effect of credit on poverty status of roasted plantain vendors in Calabar, Nigeria

This study analysed the effect of credit on the poverty status of roasted plantain vendors in Calabar, Nigeria. The study described sources of credit, comparing the poverty status of credit recipients versus non-recipients, and the relationship between credit access and poverty index alongside the relationship between socioeconomic factors and poverty index. Data was collected from 110 randomly sampled roasted plantain vendors with the use of structured questionnaire. Poverty was measured with the Foster, Greer and Thorbecke (FGT) model class of weighted poverty measures. Descriptive statistics were used to examine poverty status, access to credit and the sociodemographic attributes of the roasted plantain vendors. Next, using descriptive statistics, the poverty status of the vendors who accessed credit was compared to those who did not access credit. Finally, the association between access to credit and poverty index was analyzed with logistic regression model while adjusting for the effects of sociodemographic factors. Descriptive statistics showed that 60% of the vendors were female, the average age was 35 years, and the average household size was four persons. Precisely, 91% of the roasted plantain vendors had completed primary or higher education. Exactly, 64.5% received credit, while 30.79% reported non-institutional lenders as sources of credit. The mean monthly income was N48,036.36 (US$116.89). Poverty incidence was lower among credit recipients (0.268) compared to non-recipients (0.487). Credit access (OR = .083, p<.01) and household (OR=2.496, p<.01) had statistically significant associations with the poverty index. Policies promoting structural transformation are recommended for sustainable financial inclusion. An effective economic growth and development program, for example, will increase productive capacities and reduce capital losses, increase creditworthiness, motivate capital expansion and sustainable growth. Also, it was recommended that cooperative formation among the vendors is required. Membership of such a cooperative will increase credit access through reduced transaction cost, higher group’s creditworthiness/borrowing experience and stronger negotiation capacity. A Nigerian economic transformation program to promote increased productive capacities and reduced capital losses is necessary for any financial inclusion policies to sustainably alleviate poverty among deprived agro-processors such as the roasted plantain vendors. Such programs will include financial literacy including banking and loan repayments, business innovations, and business plan development. Key words: Credit, Financial inclusion, Micro-agro-processors, Plantain roasting, Poverty, Urban agriculture

Financial inclusion of urban agro-processors: effect of credit on poverty status of roasted plantain vendors in Calabar, Nigeria

This study analysed the effect of credit on the poverty status of roasted plantain vendors in Calabar, Nigeria. The study described sources of credit, comparing the poverty status of credit recipients versus non-recipients, and the relationship between credit access and poverty index alongside the relationship between socioeconomic factors and poverty index. Data was collected from 110 randomly sampled roasted plantain vendors with the use of structured questionnaire. Poverty was measured with the Foster, Greer and Thorbecke (FGT) model class of weighted poverty measures. Descriptive statistics were used to examine poverty status, access to credit and the sociodemographic attributes of the roasted plantain vendors. Next, using descriptive statistics, the poverty status of the vendors who accessed credit was compared to those who did not access credit. Finally, the association between access to credit and poverty index was analyzed with logistic regression model while adjusting for the effects of sociodemographic factors. Descriptive statistics showed that 60% of the vendors were female, the average age was 35 years, and the average household size was four persons. Precisely, 91% of the roasted plantain vendors had completed primary or higher education. Exactly, 64.5% received credit, while 30.79% reported non-institutional lenders as sources of credit. The mean monthly income was N48,036.36 (US$116.89). Poverty incidence was lower among credit recipients (0.268) compared to non-recipients (0.487). Credit access (OR = .083, p<.01) and household (OR=2.496, p<.01) had statistically significant associations with the poverty index. Policies promoting structural transformation are recommended for sustainable financial inclusion. An effective economic growth and development program, for example, will increase productive capacities and reduce capital losses, increase creditworthiness, motivate capital expansion and sustainable growth. Also, it was recommended that cooperative formation among the vendors is required. Membership of such a cooperative will increase credit access through reduced transaction cost, higher group’s creditworthiness/borrowing experience and stronger negotiation capacity. A Nigerian economic transformation program to promote increased productive capacities and reduced capital losses is necessary for any financial inclusion policies to sustainably alleviate poverty among deprived agro-processors such as the roasted plantain vendors. Such programs will include financial literacy including banking and loan repayments, business innovations, and business plan development. Key words: Credit, Financial inclusion, Micro-agro-processors, Plantain roasting, Poverty, Urban agriculture

Determinants of poverty and welfare among oil palm processors in Osun state

The study analyzed the determinants of poverty and welfare among oil palm processors in Osun state. The specific objectives were to examine the housing and living conditions of oil palm processors in the study area, study the extent of poverty among oil palm processors in the study area, and determine the factors influencing the welfare of oil palm processors in the study area. Primary data were collected from 160 oil palm processors through purposive and random sampling techniques. Descriptive statistics, FGT measure of poverty, and Tobit regression model were used as analytical tools. The study revealed that about 76.9 percent of the processors were female. Majority (56.875 percent) of the processing households have accommodation of their own. The results of the FGT show that about 93 percent of the respondents were poor with a poverty incidence (P0) of 0.93125, poverty depth (P1) of 0.787129 and a poverty severity (P2) of 0.695926. The Tobit regression model reveal that household size and processing method used contributes positively to the likelihood of being poor and both are significant at 5%. While access to credit, years of processing experience and monthly income contributes negatively to the likelihood of being poor which are all significant at 5%. This study recommends that policies which will reduce household size such as fertility control measures should be the focus upon. Also policy should focus more on providing credit facilities through cooperative societies in other to help them improve their welfare status.

A GIS-based assessment of flood impact on agricultural farm activities along river Dilimi, JOS north local government area of Plateau state

Flood is a natural disaster that impacts lives, food security, and ecosystems. Hence, this study sought to investigate the impact of urban flooding on agricultural farm activities along river Dilimi, Jos North LGA Plateau State Nigeria. The study identified urban agricultural farm activities along River Dilimi, and flood-prone areas along the river, and evaluated the economic impact of flood on farmer’s activities in the study area. The study utilized a satellite image of 2021 to digitize urban agricultural farmland along River Dlimi while, DEM, slope, and the landuse of the study area were utilized in an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) on ArcGIS version 10.4 to determine areas prone to flood in the study area. Concerning the economic impact of flooding, the study revealed that loss of farm was ranked 1st, hunger and starvation, loss of properties, and high incidence of poverty with a weighted mean score of 1.22, 1.21, and 1.20 ranked 2nd, 3rd, and 4th while loss of family members, displacement from a natural domain with a weighted mean score 1.19, 1.15 ranked 5th and 6th. Other impacts of floods include damaging roads (1.14), causing malaria (1.13), adding nutrients to the soil (1.11), and causing environmental pollution (1.09). loss of farmland, hunger, and starvation, loss of properties, high incidence of poverty were perceived as serious economic impacts of flood on farmers in the study area. In addition, the result further reveals that river Dilimi covers 1.5%, agricultural landuse covers 2.82%, and other landuse covers 95.66%.

Floods, Poverty, and Happiness of Rural Farmers in Northern Benin

Floods destroy crop production; nevertheless, the extent of their impact on farmers’ livelihoods in developing countries has been poorly investigated. This paper contributes to the growing evidence-based assessment of the impacts of shocks on communities. It assessed the post-disaster livelihood of farmers affected by the 2012 flooding in the semi-arid zone of Benin. To this end, a survey was conducted on 228 farmers in two municipalities of the flood-prone part of the semi-arid zone of Benin (Malanville, Karimama). Information on the well-being of households was collected using semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed using income and consumption approaches focusing on poverty and on subjective assessment using happiness approach. Additionally, a probit model was used for a poverty assessment. The survey revealed that flooded farmers were amongst the poorest in the study system. Seven variables determined poverty in this study: household size, location, the percentage of the farm size that was flooded, fishing, the farmer’s gender, farm size, and “holding a secondary activity”. Regarding happiness, 99% of the flooded farmers were unhappier after the flood in 2012. The results clearly show that being subjected to floods increases the incidence of poverty. The capacity of flood risk management and governance should be strengthened in the study system.

An analysis of the poverty reduction effects on land transfer: Evidence from rural areas in China.

This paper develops a multidimensional poverty index (MPI) evaluation system using multiple measures. We use the China Family Panel Study (CFPS) data to build balanced panel data from 2012 to 2018. Employing the probit model to analyze the impact of land transfer on relative poverty incidence, as well as utilizing the two-way fixed effects model and the logit model, we approach the issue from the perspective of multidimensional relative poverty identification. Our study indicates a decrease in relative poverty among rural households since 2012. Nonetheless, the overall incidence of relative poverty among rural households in China remains high at 20.6%, highlighting the severity of this issue in rural China. Moreover, we examine the heterogeneity of the poverty reduction effects of land transfer-in and land transfer-out. Land transfer can significantly reduce the incidence of relative poverty among rural households, with distinct mechanisms for land transfer-in and land transfer-out. Land transfer-in primarily reduces the relative poverty incidence of rural households through the education, housing, and land dimensions, while land transfer-out focuses on the quality-of-life dimension. Overall, land transfer-out has a more significant poverty reduction effect than land transfer-in. Furthermore, our study reveals that the reduction effect of land transfer on the incidence of relative poverty among rural households persists for at least two years, but by the fourth year, this effect disappears.

Energy poverty as capacity deprivation: A study of social housing using the partially ordered set

The energy crisis generated by the Russia-Ukraine war has further highlighted the urgency of addressing energy poverty. A comprehensive understanding of its incidence, severity, and drivers is crucial to contrast its increasing diffusion effectively. This need is even more evident in the Italian social housing sector, characterized by the deep obsolescence of the building stock and the economic precariousness of its users, but still, little examined due to the scarce availability of data. According to the Capability approach, this paper aims to estimate the incidence and severity of multidimensional energy poverty in the social housing building stocks by presenting a pilot survey by administering a questionnaire to 431 households living in public housing stock in the Province of Viterbo (Italy). Although the dual cut-off identification procedure is considered the traditional approach to multidimensional poverty, it is significantly influenced by researchers' choices on weights and trade-offs between dimensions. Conversely, the partially ordered set (poset) does not require any compensation between energy dimensions. To overcome the limits of the counting approach, this paper adopts the poset to estimate the multidimensional headcount ratio and poverty gap indices. The results show a high diffusion of the phenomenon among the interviewed households: 71,23% experienced severe forms of energy deprivation, on which the inability to cool the dwelling in the summer adequately exerts a significant influence. The survey suggests the ineffectiveness of the eligibility criteria of social measures in reducing the incidence of energy poverty in this specific sector, which requires long-term structural solutions such as energy requalification programs.

Effectiveness of the main national pro-poor targeted program in Armenia: evidence from the period 2004–2018

ABSTRACT Using the Armenian Household Survey data for 2004–2018 this study explores the causal effect of family benefits, the country’s main poverty targeted program, on multidimensional and monetary poverty. We find that only 40% of the total fund of this targeted program reaches the severe multidimensional poor households. Our regression estimation based on bias-corrected dynamic panel data models reveals that an increase in the proportion of households receiving family benefits mostly results in a decrease in the incidence of severe multidimensional poverty. However, it has no significant effect on moderately poor households and those who are vulnerable to poverty. This program significantly benefits only those households who are poor in terms of their health expenditure. We further observe that the impact of these benefits is significant on extreme monetary poor but the effect is inconclusive on those who live below the national upper poverty line. Our findings suggest that in the current development stage of the country the targeted poverty programs should focus on enhancing capabilities and human capital development. Also, to address the social assistance coverage gap, the government needs to enhance incentive mechanisms for the main actors in the social protection system.

Assessing the relationship between coverage of essential health services and poverty levels in low- and middle-income countries.

Universal health coverage (UHC) aims to provide essential health services and financial protection to all. This study aimed to assess the relationship between the service coverage aspect of universal health coverage and poverty in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Using country-level data from 96 LMICs from 1990 to 2017, we employed fixed-effects and random-effects regressions to investigate the association of eight service coverage indicators (inpatient admissions; antenatal care; skilled birth attendance; full immunization; cervical and breast cancer screening rates; diarrhoea and acute respiratory infection treatment rates) with poverty headcount ratios and gaps at the $1.90, $3.20 and $5.50 poverty lines. Missing data were imputed using within-country linear interpolation or extrapolation. One-unit increases in seven service indicators (breast cancer screening being the only one with no significant associations) were associated with reduced poverty headcounts by 2.54, 2.46 and 1.81 percentage points at the $1.90, $3.20 and $5.50 lines, respectively. The corresponding reductions in poverty gaps were 0.99 ($1.90), 1.83 ($3.20) and 1.89 ($5.50) percentage points. Apart from cervical cancer screening, which was only significant in one poverty headcount model ($5.50 line), all other service indicators were significant in either the poverty headcount or gap models at both $1.90 and $3.20 poverty lines. In LMICs, higher service coverage rates are associated with lower incidence and intensity of poverty. Further research is warranted to identify the causal pathways and specific circumstances in which improved health services in LMICs might help to reduce poverty.

The Role of Organic Agriculture in Poverty Alleviation in Southern Philippines

This paper examines the impact of organic agriculture towards poverty alleviation among farmers in Sarangani Province, a southern province of the Philippines. In the Philippines, agriculture sector accounts the highest poverty incidences particularly on farmers and fisher folk. Using a qualitative case study design, the realities on the ground are drawn from insights of organic farmers using key informant interviews and focus group discussions. Interestingly, organic agriculture shows potential for poverty alleviation as it addresses fundamental problems among farmers such as food availability, sufficient nutrition, and source of daily income. Food security for the locality through organic farming remains a challenge as surplus production is met by intensive labor requirements for organic farming especially for rice and corn. This paper argues that organic agriculture potentials for poverty alleviation can be maximized when equipment, transfer of technology, and entrepreneurial/marketing components are further extended to the farmers as part state intervention. While relationship with the civil society and the industry can be improved to increase the income potential of organic farmers.

Inflation-poverty causal nexus in sub-Saharan African countries: an asymmetric panel causality approach

PurposeThis study examines the roles of cross-sectional dependence, asymmetric structure and country-to-country policy variations in the inflation-poverty reduction causal nexus in selected sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries from 1981 to 2019.Design/methodology/approachTo account for cross-sectional dependence, heterogeneity and policy variations across countries in the inflation-poverty reduction causal nexus, this study uses robust Hatemi-J data decomposition procedures and a battery of second-generation techniques. These techniques include cross-sectional dependency tests, panel unit root tests, slope homogeneity tests and the Dumitrescu-Hurlin panel Granger non-causality approach.FindingsUnlike existing studies, the panel and country-specific findings exhibit several dimensions of asymmetric causality in the inflation-poverty nexus. Positive inflationary shocks Granger-causes poverty reduction through investment and employment opportunities that benefit the impoverished in SSA. These findings align with country-specific analyses of Botswana, Cameroon, Gabon, Mauritania, South Africa and Togo. Also, a decline in poverty causes inflation to increase in the Congo Republic, Madagascar, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo. All panel and country-specific analyses reveal at least one dimension of asymmetric causality or another.Practical implicationsAll stakeholders and policymakers must pay adequate attention to issues of asymmetric structures, nonlinearities and country-to-country policy variations to address country-specific issues and the socioeconomic problems in the probable causal nexus between the high incidence of extreme poverty and double-digit inflation rates in most SSA countries.Originality/valueStudies on the inflation-poverty nexus are not uncommon in economic literature. Most existing studies focus on inflation’s effect on poverty. Existing studies that examine the inflation-poverty causal relationship covertly assume no asymmetric structure and nonlinearity. Also, the issues of cross-sectional dependence and heterogeneity are unexplored in the causal link in existing studies. All panel studies covertly impose homogeneous policies on countries in the causality. This study relaxes this supposition by allowing policies to vary across countries in the panel framework. Thus, this study makes three-dimensional contributions to increasing understanding of the inflation-poverty nexus.

Incidence, intensity and drivers of multidimensional poverty among rural women in Nigeria

Rural women are important agents of development and they are the backbone of achieving sustainable development in any society. However, rural women in Nigeria, like in most developing countries, disproportionately bear the burden of poverty due to poor access to productive resources, information and services. There is growing evidence that prioritizing measures for ending poverty among rural women represents an important gateway to the achievement of other global goals. This study therefore seeks to determine the extent of multidimensional poverty among rural women in Nigeria and to also identify its critical risk factors. Using secondary data obtained from 2018/2019 Harmonized Nigeria Living Standard Survey (HNLSS), findings from the study reveal that more than three-quarters of the rural women in Nigeria are multidimensionally poor and they experience multiple deprivations in the weighted indicators across the poverty dimensions. The living standard dimension accounted for the largest share of deprivation suffered by rural women while health dimension contributed the least. However, further analysis across the sub-indicators of poverty dimensions revealed security shocks, unemployment and time to health care services as the biggest contributors to multidimensional poverty of rural women in Nigeria. Results also show that age, household size, years of education, household expenditure, ownership of cropland, credit access and access to safety nets are the main determinants of multidimensional poverty among rural women. The study recommends the need to focus on policy options that provide more primary health care services, increase employment opportunities and strengthen shock-preventive or shock-responsive social protection systems of rural women.

The impact of local cost-of-living differences on relative poverty incidence: an application using retail scanner data and small area estimation models

Estimating economic poverty indicators at the local level is essential for well-targeted data-driven welfare policies. However, Italy is a country characterized by strong geographical heterogeneity represented by unequal price levels among different areas, and computing poverty indicators with a national monetary poverty threshold can be misleading. This work proposes a novel approach to estimate monetary poverty incidence at the provincial level in Italy considering the different price levels within national boundaries. To account for local price variation, Spatial Price Indices (SPIs) are computed using scanner data on retail prices. The SPIs are estimated in two ways, referring to the mean local prices and using the 20th percentile of the prices. These two kinds of SPIs are used to adjust the national poverty line when computing the poverty incidence at the provincial level using Small Area Estimation (SAE) models. Our findings suggest that adjusting the national poverty line using the SPIs to compute a monetary poverty index can modify the poverty mapping results from the map produced with the traditional national poverty line that ignores price differences.

Female-headed household characteristics and poverty levels in Namibia: An ordinal probit analysis of the 2015/16 Namibia Household Income and Expenditure Survey

Poverty incidence in Namibia is higher amongst female-headed households (46%) compared to male-headed households (41%). However, this situation is further worsened by females in households increasingly being forced to play multiple, conflicting roles after losing their spouses, and to work in marginal, part-time, informal and low-income jobs due to their lack of access to high-paying jobs, while having to take care of children, siblings and sometimes parents with no form(s) of assistance. In this study, a cross-sectional quantitative study design of the 2015/16 NHIES and an ordinal probit model was used to examine the household characteristics that contribute to poverty among female-headed households in Namibia, as well as their effects on the households’ poverty levels. Results from this study showed that characteristics such as region (p<0.001), main language spoken at home (p<0.001), main source of income (p=0.009), location (p=0.016), and highest level of education (p=0.005) had significant associations with the household poverty levels. Additionally, female-headed households in the urban areas in the Hardap, Otjozondjupa and Zambezi regions, whose main languages spoken were English, German, Zambezi and other languages, with tertiary education and main source of income from commercial farming and other sources were less likely to be severely poor and more likely to be not-poor. Therefore, it is recommended that the Namibian government and policymakers further improve the livelihood of women, especially those heading households in other regions, in terms of a comprehensive social development strategy that covers the immediate needs for short-term and long-term needs of these women.