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Poverty was already a main problem in Afghanistan even before, but it has exacerbated due to the pandemic. However, the actual impact of the pandemic on households had not been investigated. This study provides such analysis using data obtained from a strictly random survey of 1060 households in the capital of Balkh, the fourth most populated province in Afghanistan. Using headcount ratio and poverty gap measures and both income and expenditure approaches, the results show that an additional 12% of households fell below the poverty line, from an already high of 75% before the pandemic. The poverty gap index rises to 34%, but the computed Gini coefficient indicates no significant change in inequality. Poor governance and corruption in Afghanistan are major impediments to address the issue of poverty. This paper suggests several measures which can be implemented to have effective policies and governance to alleviate poverty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2019, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) reported that 7.1 million households in the United States (5.4%) were unbanked and lacked a checking or savings account). Using three leading household surveys, this paper documents how the interaction between bank access and poverty has evolved over time. We present a historical time series of unbanked rates, showing high‐unbanked rates for those in poverty even with increases in financial access over time. In the 1980s, 49.6% of households in poverty were unbanked while 22.8% were unbanked in 2019. Unbanked rates were even higher for Black and Hispanic households that were in poverty. In the 1980s, these groups had unbanked rates of 73.6% and 66.5% which declined to 38.4% and 31.8% in 2019, respectively. To explain differences in banking rates by race, we use binary Kitagawa‐Oaxaca‐Blinder decompositions. Socio‐demographic characteristics explain less than half the difference in unbanked rates for Blacks and around half for Hispanics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In South Africa, youth (15–34 years) are the most vulnerable age group, assuming a large share of unemployment and NEET rates. This has raised concerns of their living standards, which have a great influence on their overall development. Although much has been written on poverty in South Africa, poverty specifically among the youth remains under-researched. This study analyses factors that determine poverty among youth-headed households in South Africa using the 2018 General Household Survey data from Statistics South Africa. Using a binary logistic regression, the paper provides findings and makes recommendations and imperative insights to policy-makers in advancing the socio-economic status of young people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Household consumption surveys do not typically offer poverty estimates for refugees. We test the performance of a recently developed cross-survey imputation method to estimate poverty for a sample of refugees in Chad, combining survey and administrative data collected by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). We find the imputed poverty rates are not statistically different from the poverty rates obtained directly from the survey consumption data. This result is robust to different model specifications, varying poverty lines, and assumptions of the error terms. Targeting results based on the imputed poverty estimates also outperform common targeting methods, such as proxy means tests and the current targeting method used by humanitarian organizations in Chad. Replicating this approach in at least some of the 122 other countries currently using UNHCR administrative data could help address data gaps and provide much-needed estimates to effectively respond to forcibly displaced crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the determinants of energy poverty among the elderly is crucial for shaping energy policies with significant economic and social implications. This research provides valuable insights into the factors influencing energy poverty among the elderly in Greece. To achieve the study's objectives, household survey data from 3651 elderly individuals for the year 2022 were utilized. The empirical findings, based on statistical and econometric analysis, affirm the influence of socioeconomic factors on the ability of the elderly to meet their energy needs and address energy poverty challenges. The analysis suggests that both household size and work-related pensions positively impact their ability to address their heating requirements. Elderly individuals with a higher level of education are less likely to experience energy poverty. Additionally, it is found that as perceived health status declines, elderly individuals are more likely to encounter difficulties in covering utility payments. These results underscore the importance of tailoring strategies to promote the adoption of energy poverty measures that cater to diverse demographic and income groups. This information is vital for ensuring that the elderly can afford to maintain a comfortable living environment without sacrificing other essential needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using household surveys for 2008 and 2011, a multidimensional destitution measure is constructed for Pakistan's most populated province – Punjab. Using a non-monetary framework for dimensions of health, education and standard of living, the study paints a temporal picture of the extremely impoverished households in districts and towns, while highlighting the impact of the destructive 2010 floods. Results reveal the existence of pervasive destitution, with half of the multidimensionally poor households also identified as destitute. Destitution is higher for rural as compared to urban households, while the geography of destitution highlights its concentration in south-west Punjab, providing insights for targeted interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study uses four rounds of household panel data to investigate consensual-based energy poverty in Greece. Employing dynamic Probit random effects and Wooldridge conditional maximum likelihood (WCML) estimators, we find evidence of genuine state dependence effects in consensual-based energy poverty among Greek households. Poverty persistence (10-12%) effects are also evident in our data. Socioeconomic, demographic, market, household, and climatic characteristics are essential predictors of energy poverty. Around 9–10% of the households seem chronically energy poor, while education, income level, dwelling characteristics, migration background, and employment status affect the chances of suffering and exiting from energy poverty. Empirical results have significant policy implications that could mitigate residential energy poverty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eradicating poverty in all its forms, everywhere, requires indicators that measure sustainable pathways out of poverty, and not only the absence of acute poverty. This paper introduces a trial Moderate Multidimensional Poverty Index (MMPI) that reflects moderate rather than acute levels of multidimensional poverty. The MMPI adjusts nine of the 10 indicators of the global Multidimensional Poverty Index (global MPI) to reflect moderate poverty and create a meaningful superset of the acutely poor population. Although data-constrained, the trial MMPI outlines a methodology and potential indicators for a measure that would: (i) be meaningful and comparable across populations at higher levels of development; (ii) align with higher standards defined in Agenda 2030; and (iii) provide insight into aspects of intrahousehold deprivation. The MMPI is illustrated empirically using nationally representative household surveys from Bangladesh, Guatemala, Iraq, Serbia, Tanzania and Thailand. The results confirm the added value of having three nested measures of destitution, acute, and moderate multidimensional poverty. The MMPI also complements monetary measures with informative differences in poverty levels observed. The results demonstrate that a Moderate MPI is a desirable global poverty index, which is likely to illuminate thus far hidden aspects in of multidimensional poverty, such as intrahousehold deprivations in education. Challenges remain regarding data availability, and further study across additional countries is required before the MMPI structure can be finalised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to analyze the parental reproduction of occupations and their effects on income according to the diverse socioeconomic conditions of Brazil. Logistic regressions and wage decomposition using RIF -Recentered Influence Function—were applied to the microdata of the 2019 National Continuous Household Sample Survey. We found that sons tend to follow the occupation of fathers and daughters that of mothers; rural dwellers from traditional families and from poorer classes with low levels of education are more likely to reproduce their parents' occupation. Parental reproduction of occupations among the poor leads to lower remuneration for individuals compared to those who choose other occupations and to the maintenance of economic poverty. Impacts are greatest in the smallest quantile of wage distribution and for the poor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poverty is a big threat to prosperity in developing countries like Pakistan. Alleviating poverty needs concerted efforts including how to measure and analyze poverty. Therefore, this paper employs synthetic panel technique and uses repeated cross-sections household survey dataset (Household Integrated and Economic Survey (HIES)) of Pakistan for 2010–11 and 2015–16, to derive poverty bounds for Pakistan. The findings of the paper suggest that 17% of population still remains in poverty in 2015–16 as they were in 2010–11. They don't move in or out of poverty. In the same periods 19% population affected by poverty. The 2.5% poor's of 2010–11 moves out of poverty in 2015–16. This constitutes the first attempt to provide an insight into poverty dynamics in Pakistan using the available survey data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess household poverty, sanitation and hygiene practices, and food security in both urban and rural settlements of district Peshawar. Methods: We conducted this cross-sectional study from March 2019 to October 2019 in the urban and rural households of Peshawar, KPK. Using stratified random sampling, 554 households (HH) having children and young adolescents of age 5-19 years, adult men > 19 -- 62 years, and adult women >19 - 62 years were included in this study. Data was collected using comprehensive tool comprised of all validated questionnaires and was analyzed using SPSS Version 24.0. Results: Within the urban clusters, the maximum number of households (n=29) were from Gari Baloch and the minimum number of households (n=7) were from Gulberg. In the rural clusters, the maximum number of households surveyed (n=41) were from Lamara, minimum(n=21) was from Chargula. The average age of household heads was 44.5 ±12.5 with mean age slightly higher in urban areas (45.1 ±11.8) compared to 44.0 ±13.2 in rural areas. The mean poverty score was 56.8 (±11.6) with 72.1% non-poor households, and 94.2% households being food secure. Handwashing practices were highly prevalent among all the HH, however, handwashing practices before eating were comparatively lower in all HH (45.2%), lowest (37.8%) among rural households. Conclusion: The findings of the study revealed both non-poor and food secure households with satisfactory water, hygiene and sanitation practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyze the effect on poverty of a significant increase in the minimum wage using a quasi-experimental situation in Mexico. In January 2019, the Mexican government announced an increase in the minimum wage: in most of the country it increased by 16 per cent, while in 43 municipalities along the U.S. border it increased by 100 per cent. Using household surveys and the official method for calculating labor income poverty, we implement difference-in-difference and synthetic control methodologies to estimate whether this policy affected poverty in Mexico. We find that poverty along the border decreased by 2.6–3.0 percentage points (11–13 per cent) due to the larger increase in the minimum wage. Poverty was reduced mainly by reducing the flow from non-poverty into poverty. However, poverty intensity increased, mainly because the policy did not affect the share of families without labor income among the poorest households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In more recent times, there is an increasing consensus in the field of development study to view poverty as a multidimensional deprivation beyond the more commonly used monetary perspective. Although the multidimensional poverty measurement is gaining more acceptance among policy makers, it is still based on the clear distinction between the poor and non-poor through an arbitrary threshold. One alternative to this shortcoming is offered by a multidimensional poverty measurement with a fuzzy-set approach in which it is possible to recognize deprivations as a matter of degree. The integrated fuzzy approach allows this possibility, although there is an unexplored opportunity of recognising that two or more dimensions can be attributed to a single item or attribute. This paper aims to contribute to this strand of research by introducing a 'Double-Fuzzy' approach. The methodology is applied to Tunisia using the Tunisian National Survey on Household Budget and Consumption (HBS) 2015. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The persistently high level of poverty remains one of the main socio-economic issues in South Africa since the democratic transition in 1994. Many South Africa studies focused on using money-metric measures to examine poverty levels and rates, but in recent years there has been an emergence of studies that examined multidimensional non-money-metric poverty. Nonetheless, some poverty indicators are still ignored. Thus, this study re-examined the extent of multidimensional poverty in South Africa with the derivation of a Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) by considering the various overlooked indicators. Upon analysing Statistics South Africa's 2018 General Household Survey data, the empirical findings indicated that deprivation was most profound for African females living in rural areas in Eastern Cape and Limpopo, in households headed by those who were not employed. Deprivation was also the highest in the transport assets, sanitation type, refuse removal frequency, water and receipt of post/mail indicators. With regard to poverty decomposition by dimension, the top three dimensions representing the greatest share of MPI poverty were access to services and facilities (31%), asset ownership (22%) and dwelling (17%), with the isolation dimension following closely (15%). Lastly, the indicators which contributed most to MPI poverty were transport assets, sanitation type, refuse removal frequency and water source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In the recent decade, the study of social norms has become popular as it can explain and change harmful social behaviours, such as Open Defecation (OD). Open defecation is is a threat to public health. It causes diarrheal infections. Households formed the unit of study as they constitute an essential social institution to adopt and use latrines. Aim: To compare the social norms of the latrine user and OD practitioners of households with regard to disgust, purity and pollution, latrine and OD beliefs, and the preference for latrines that differ in cost. Materials and Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted among 486 participants at Aurangabad district, Bihar, India, from July 2019 to January 2020. The district is one of the worst performers in latrine adoption in the country, according to the census of India 2011, Swachh Bharat Mission 2016, and NFHS-5 2019-21 data. A pretested questionnaire prepared by Research Institute for Compassionate Economics (RICE) was used as a tool for data collection. Data collected were entered into Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0. Descriptive data analysis was performed and represented in tabular forms. The categories of households were made on the basis of the defecation practices (latrine user and OD practitioners). Results: The study found that social norms regarding purity and pollution were the same across the two groups. Both the groups (latrine user and OD practitioners) agreed that OD was disgusting and polluting behaviour. The two groups were coherent in the preference for latrines based on cost. Conclusion: The social norms are evolving in the study setting. Households have recognised the relevance of latrine use in contemporary times. The gap in practice is the only difference between the two groups of households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While utilizing the latest round of a household survey of Bangladesh, this paper used a vulnerability index to understand household welfare in case of shocks, uncertainty, or unforeseen events like COVID-19. According to our analysis, environmentally exposed regions are found to be more vulnerable to economic shock, and certain occupational groups are expected to experience higher incidences of poverty and vulnerability. In addition, demographic features of households can be crucial in vulnerability analysis. Our analysis therefore expects to provide crucial policy guidelines for identifying the vulnerable groups as well as for redesigning poverty reduction strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Estimates of global poverty as reported in the Sustainable Development Goals assume that a household of six people needs three times as many resources as a household of two people (i.e., there are no economies of scale in household consumption). • This paper assesses the sensitivity of global poverty estimates to assuming that there are economies of scale in household consumption. • The findings indicate that regional poverty rates do not change substantially when incorporating household-level economies of scale. • While the regional profile does not change much, the identification of who is poor changes substantially with the poverty status of more than 260 million people changing when allowing for economies of scale in household consumption. • The findings offer evidence that dividing total household resources by the square-root of household size performs reasonably well in identifying poor households. Estimates of the number of people living in extreme poverty, as reported by the World Bank, figure prominently in international development dialogue and policy. An assumption underpinning these poverty counts is that there are no economies of scale in household size – a family of six needs three times as much as a family of two. This paper examines the sensitivity of global estimates of extreme poverty to changing this assumption. The analysis rests on nationally representative household surveys from 162 countries covering 97.5 percent of the population estimated to be in extreme poverty in 2019. We compare current-method estimates with a constant-elasticity scale adjustment that divides total household consumption or income not by household size but by the square-root of household size. While the regional profile of extreme poverty is robust to this change, the determination of who is poor changes substantially – the poverty status of 264 million people changes. We then discuss evidence suggesting that the assumption of economies of scale more closely aligns with non-consumption measures of poverty. Specifically, we draw from existing literature of subjective assessments of poverty and wellbeing, along with new empirical evidence from examining the partial correlation (conditional on household size) between the two measures of poverty and a set of presumed poverty covariates (i.e., years of schooling, literacy, asset index, working in agriculture, access to electricity, piped drinking water, improved sanitation). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Mozambique experienced sustained economic growth and poverty reduction until 2015. • During 2015–20 many shocks hit, leading to devaluation of the national currency. • This brought about a general increase in prices, especially food prices. • Household welfare and poverty were negatively affected by the food price rise. • Policy makers likely underestimated the link devaluation-inflation-poverty. From the early 1990s, Mozambique experienced sustained economic growth and both consumption and multidimensional poverty reduced until 2014/15. Starting in the second half of 2015, a deep economic crisis hit. Economic growth plummeted and the national currency devalued significantly, leading to a general increase in prices, especially food prices. Since food products account for more than half of the consumption of poor families, and a high percentage of households are net food buyers, we argue that the food price rise is likely a major factor behind the significant upsurge in the poverty rate observed in 2019/20. Using various analytical approaches and robustness checks, we analyse and link the price trends and the shocks experienced between 2014/15 and 2019/20, in an attempt to examine and uncover how they influenced poverty. While being clearly relevant for policy makers and development partners in Mozambique, who may not have fully appraised the consequences of recent shocks on household welfare, our study is relevant to other developing countries. This is especially so for those that depend on imported food, and characterised by a high percentage of net food buyer households, who spend a large part of their income on food, and experiencing contemporary shocks involving price surges, regional disparities and weak governance. This seems even more important now after the surge in global inflation that followed the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The International comparative studies of social stratification and class mobility are based on class schemes designed for industrialized countries. One such scheme, the EGP scheme developed by Erikson and Goldthorpe, has become a standard in the field. The use of this scheme in other regions of the world, including Latin America, has been crucial for the comparative analysis. However, this scheme may not reflect heterogeneities in the prevailing labor relations in developing countries, where salaried and self-employment occupations are segmented into high and low productivity sectors, with unequal working conditions and remuneration. We propose an adaptation of the EGP scheme to take into account this heterogeneity. Based on this adaptation, subjected to various tests of coherence and empirical homologation, we use data from national household surveys in Latin American and European countries, characterize their class structures and analyze the association between class membership and living conditions. Our results indicate that this modified version of the EGP class scheme improves the characterizations of class structures, as well as our understanding of the structural foundations of poverty and income inequality in Latin America. For this we use household surveys, and a homogeneous codification of the uniform classifier of Occupations to be able to make the comparisons, along with harmonizing variables to develop the analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poverty mapping is a valuable tool for governments and international organizations to identify the geographical areas and population groups that are most deprived or vulnerable. This approach can lead to designing and monitoring development policies more effectively. This article presents the recent experience of the Statistics Division of the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) in using Small Area Estimation (SAE) methods to combine information from household surveys, censuses and satellite imagery to deliver poverty estimates at the provincial and municipal levels, which could not be attained using the household surveys alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper evaluates the benefits of combining household surveys with satellite and other geospatial data to generate small area estimates of non-monetary poverty. Using data from Tanzania and Sri Lanka and applying a household-level empirical best (EB) predictor mixed model, we find that combining survey data with geospatial data significantly improves both the precision and accuracy of our non-monetary poverty estimates. While the EB predictor model moderately underestimates standard errors of those point estimates, coverage rates are similar to standard survey-based standard errors that assume independent outcomes across clusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reduce poverty, it is important to obtain accurate information on poverty conditions in a timely manner. Previous studies indicated that nighttime light products are helpful for poverty estimation. However, there exist no studies that have investigated the potential of LuoJia1-01, a new-generation nighttime light satellite with a much finer resolution (∼130 m), for analyzing poverty. In addition, nighttime light data may not reflect daytime-only socio-economic activities. To address these problems, our study first compared the performance of LuoJia1-01 and NPP-VIIRS products in poverty estimation. Next, we incorporated point of interest (POI) information so that daytime-only socio-economic activities can be considered. Our experiments indicated that LuoJia1-01 performs slightly better than NPP-VIIRS in terms of poverty estimation at county level. More importantly, we revealed that the combination of POIs and nighttime light products can moderately increase the average estimation accuracies. These findings are expected to support poverty monitoring over large regions for long periods, which cannot be fulfilled by traditional household surveys and census. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The estimation of poverty and inequality indicators based on survey data is trivial as long as the variable of interest (e.g., income or consumption) is measured on a metric scale. However, estimation is not directly possible, using standard formulas, when the income variable is grouped due to confidentiality constraints or in order to decrease item nonresponse. We propose an iterative kernel density algorithm that generates metric pseudo samples from the grouped variable for the estimation of indicators. The corresponding standard errors are estimated by a non-parametric bootstrap that accounts for the additional uncertainty due to the grouping. The algorithm enables the use of survey weights and household equivalence scales. The proposed method is applied to the German Microcensus for estimating the regional distribution of poverty and inequality in Germany. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many countries, including Croatia, support households in need not only through social transfers, but also through ‘socially motivated’ reduced VAT rates for goods such as food. These measures are also useful to those who are richer, so the question arises whether it is more desirable to increase social benefits that target low-income housholds. This paper analyses distributive effects of a hypothetical reform of the Croatian system of taxation and transfers which includes: (a) abolition of socially motivated reduced VAT rates; (b) increase of generosity and the number of the users of guaranteed minimum benefit and the users of allowance for vulnerable energy buyers. The reform is designed to be virtually neutral fiscally in the sense that almost all additional VAT is spent on the increase of guaranteed minimum benefit and allowance for vulnerable energy buyers. Results of the analysis conducted by a detailed microsimulational model of taxation and transers that uses the data from EU-SILC and the Survey on household consumption show that the reform reduces poverty and inequality based on income after taxation and transfers, in spite of the increase of the regressivity of VAT and the decrease of the progressivity of the guaranted minimum benefit and allowance for vulnerable energy buyers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Motivation: Governments in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA) have rapidly expanded cash transfer programmes as part of their social protection strategy over the last decade. Currently 46 countries have a state‐sponsored social protection programme, compared to just 25 countries in 2005, with the most common type of programme being cash transfers, representing 51% of all social protection spending in the region. Purpose: We present evidence on the overall impacts of state‐sponsored cash transfer programmes in SSA, using data from three impact evaluations of government programmes. All three programmes were a key component of the poverty reduction strategy of the respective governments at the time of the evaluations. Methods and approach: We show impacts across nine broad domains including both protection, production and human development, using baseline and follow‐up household surveys on Treatment and Control groups. We relate the pattern of impacts to programme design parameters to further understand the constraints faced by ultra‐poor rural households. Findings: All three programmes have strong effects on their primary objective—food security or food consumption, as well as on secondary objectives that include livelihood strengthening and children's well‐being. The largest and most consistent impacts occur in Malawi, where transfer values are in line with international best practice and payments were made regularly during the study period. All programmes show a positive income multiplier, with the multiplier largest in Malawi at 2.94. Policy implications: The overall results across three national programmes add to the growing evidence from Africa that government unconditional cash transfers have important positive effects on households, that these effects are not limited to just food security, and that programme design features influence the pattern and size of impacts. Results in this article are based on programmes that pass both criteria of implementation feasibility and political acceptability, and thus provide a more accurate reflection of what real‐world cash transfer programmes can achieve in SSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyses poverty in South Africa, using the GHS-data of 2018. STATSSA designates three poverty lines, the upper-bound poverty line is employed in the methodology, which makes the analysis more detailed and unique. The methodology uses descriptive statistics, multivariate analysis and inferential approaches specifically the binary-logistic regression model. The results of the model indicate that socioeconomic factors such as income, and household size, on the household level and head of household characteristics such as gender, marital status, age and population group were significant determinants of poverty. Policies that target girl education would go a long way in addressing poverty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we analyse geo-coded climate data matched with two rounds of household surveys from Mauritania to compare the impact of the 2008 and 2014 droughts on rural households' welfare and the adaptation strategies they employed. The 2008 and 2014 droughts differ sharply in intensity. The 2008 drought was localised with about 45% rural households reporting loss of livestock. In contrast, the 2014 drought was the worst in a decade and affected nearly all parts of the country. We find that households living in the districts where the 2014 drought was at least one standard deviation more intense relative to the district's long-term precipitation average have an 11.9% lower per capita consumption and 8.9% higher likelihood of falling below the poverty line compared to households which faced less-intense drought. We observe no such welfare losses during the 2008 drought. Change in household asset portfolio sheds light on these findings: Household wealth fell during both periods of drought, implying that farm households attempted to maintain consumption by liquidating assets, especially livestock. However, ownership of small ruminants grew, suggesting a greater reliance on more drought-resistant livestock species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although reducing poverty has become an important issue for rural development in China, few studies have analyzed the role of mobile Internet use in multidimensional poverty. To fill this gap, this study investigated the impact of mobile Internet use on multidimensional poverty, using data collected from a household survey in rural China. Because households generally decide whether to use mobile Internet by themselves, an endogenous switching regression model was employed to control for potential selection bias. In total, 9.63% of the households were identified as multidimensionally poor and the adjusted multidimensional poverty incidence was 5.47%. The results also showed that mobile Internet use has a significant negative impact on multidimensional poverty. Further, we provide evidence of heterogeneity in the effect of mobile Internet use across regions. These findings highlight the importance of mobile Internet use in multidimensional poverty reduction strategies for rural households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although reducing poverty has become an important issue for rural development in China, few studies have analyzed the role of mobile Internet use in multidimensional poverty. To fill this gap, this study investigated the impact of mobile Internet use on multidimensional poverty, using data collected from a household survey in rural China. Because households generally decide whether to use mobile Internet by themselves, an endogenous switching regression model was employed to control for potential selection bias. In total, 9.63% of the households were identified as multidimensionally poor and the adjusted multidimensional poverty incidence was 5.47%. The results also showed that mobile Internet use has a significant negative impact on multidimensional poverty. Further, we provide evidence of heterogeneity in the effect of mobile Internet use across regions. These findings highlight the importance of mobile Internet use in multidimensional poverty reduction strategies for rural households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies at national level have emphasized the failure of microfinance services as a means for development in Cambodia due to high interest rates, non-productive use of loans, over-indebtedness, often landless customers and intergenerational migration. This paper examines the effect of access to microfinance on household poverty and welfare using cross-sectional data from a 2015 survey of 411 households in 48 districts located in nine of Cambodia's provinces. These households were beneficiaries of the Agriculture Cooperative (AC) community development project supported by World Vision and the Australian Government. Applying the Wald test of exogeneity and Newey's minimum chi-squared estimators with the two-step option, probit models of household poverty status were estimated, as well as tobit models of household welfare level with endogenous treatment effects. The findings suggest that access to microfinance is associated with poverty reduction and increased per capita income of the household, but access to microfinance services has an insignificant impact on household welfare proxied by per capita economic assets and expenditure on child well-being. However, the results must be interpreted with caution due to sample selection effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite record economic growth in the decade that followed the fall of the Taliban regime, poverty remained stubbornly high in Afghanistan, declining substantially only in regions that suffered more from conflict. This paper aims to explain this apparent puzzle by combining conflict-related indicators at the province level with household level observations. Estimates, which start in 2007 and stop in 2014 because of data availability constraints, show that large troop deployments reduced conflict intensity but also boosted local consumption, an effect reinforced by foreign aid flows being larger in conflict-affected areas. The robustness of these findings is assessed through an out-of-sample simulation of the impact of declining international troops and foreign aid after 2014. The simulation accurately predicts the sharp deterioration in living standards uncovered by a 2016 household survey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides evidence on the heterogeneous welfare implications of rural income portfolios in eastern Uganda. We use household survey data from two-panel rounds, and fixed and random effects estimation and quantile regressions to estimate average and heterogeneous effects. While the literature mostly focuses on either income diversification or participation in non-farm activities, we distinguish between income diversification, using the Simpson Index, and off-farm income generation. We use ex-post income and poverty measures as well as an ex-ante vulnerability measure to analyse welfare effects. We find that income diversification and non-farm income generation improve household income, and reduce poverty and vulnerability. We find that it is most beneficial for poorer households with less land assets to diversify their income portfolio, while moving out of agriculture is equally beneficial at all income levels and most beneficial for households with more human capital. We find that income diversification reduces vulnerability most strongly at high levels of diversification and low levels of income while non-farm income generation reduces vulnerability at lower levels of non-farm income and increases vulnerability at higher levels of non-farm income. Our results lead to nuanced findings that bring additional insights in the literature on structural transformation and rural development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Según datos oficiales (basados en la línea de ingresos), la pobreza en Costa Rica llegó a afectar al 20% de los hogares en 1994 y, aparentemente, no se habría alejado de forma sustancial de ese valor. En la actualidad se considera que el nivel de pobreza se encuentra estancado en torno al 20% desde hace más de dos décadas. Sin embargo, la medición de la pobreza ha sufrido cambios metodológicos que impiden la estricta comparación de los datos en el tiempo. En esta investigación se realiza una propuesta para superar las dificultades metodológicas y obtener una serie de datos de pobreza comparables en el período de 1987 a 2017, con la cual se demuestra que la pobreza en Costa Rica mostró pocas variaciones entre 1994 y 2006, pero se redujo a partir de este último año. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

En este artículo se evalúa el impacto de las transferencias monetarias condicionadas, las pensiones sociales y otras transferencias no contributivas sobre distintos indicadores de pobreza y pobreza extrema en América Latina, sobre la base del análisis de las encuestas de hogares de 15 países de la región entre 2014 y 2017. Se encuentra que en 2017, gracias al efecto combinado de estos programas de protección social no contributiva, en el promedio simple regional, la pobreza se redujo 2,0 puntos porcentuales y la pobreza extrema 1,7 puntos porcentuales, lo que equivale a una disminución relativa del 11,8% y el 25,9%, respectivamente. Asimismo, se observa que las encuestas tienden a captar menos perceptores de transferencias no contributivas que los registros administrativos. Esta subcaptación, según se calcula para el caso del Brasil, puede llevar a subestimar el impacto de los programas, especialmente en los índices de severidad y profundidad de la pobreza. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the impact of remittances on multidimensional energy poverty in Bangladesh by employing a nationally representative Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES)-2016 with a sample size of 46,080 households. Remittance is one of the sources of household income that can be utilized for energy services. Energy poverty is generally described and quantified at the household level, exposing potential household characteristics in terms of energy costs and benefits and access to energy services. Controlling for the relevant characteristics of investigated households, mixed-effect linear regression, two-stage least square, and generalized ordered logistic regression reveal that households with remittance income have a significantly lower level of multidimensional energy poverty in Bangladesh. The outcomes of this work advocate that an upsurge in remittance inflow engenders a strong contribution toward alleviating energy poverty in Bangladesh and likely in other developing nations. National programs should be established for devising policies to promote migrant workers, lowering energy costs at the household level, and investing remittance income into modern energy technologies to ensure and enhance access to clean energy sources. [Display omitted] • The link between remittances and multidimensional energy poverty is analyzed. • Multidimensional energy poverty Index is measured for Bangladesh. • Remittance inflows significantly reduce multidimensional energy poverty. • Lowering energy costs and investing remittance income into modern technologies are required to overcome energy poverty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eliminating energy poverty is a significant scheme to eradicate poverty and improve livelihood in China. Therefore, based on China Family Panel Studies from 2014, 2016, and 2018, we investigate the energy poverty in China and its effect mechanism on livelihood. Firstly, a comprehensive index of quality of life at the family level is constructed, considering income, expense, insurance, health, and future attitude. Secondly, we establish four variables to measure energy poverty from the accessibility and affordability of energy. Finally, we examine the relationship between energy poverty and the quality of life of the family in China. The results are statistically significant and robust. Both the accessibility and affordability indicators of energy poverty harm the quality of life. Our research provides a meaningful insight for policymakers to deal with energy poverty in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy poverty leads to several household consequences, including health conditions deterioration. As such, the association between energy poverty on health cannot be overemphasized. Due to these dampening health conditions, households engage in higher health expenses which could be catastrophic relative to the households' income or expenditures. This study investigates the causal association of energy poverty with the catastrophic health expenditure of Nigerian households. A Logistic binary choice model is applied using the Nigerian 2019 General Household Survey, Wave 4, (GHS4) data. The findings confirm that energy poverty is a causation of catastrophic health expenditure. Specifically, energy-poor Nigerian households have about 0.104% points higher causal chances of experiencing catastrophic health expenditure relative to non-energy poor Nigerian households. This marginal effect has also increased over the years in magnitude. On state/provincial levels, Osun and Niger states are the least catastrophic health expenditure states while Imo and Enugu states are the highest catastrophic health expenditure states. Besides, Bauchi and Kogi states have the highest probabilities of making the list of top catastrophic health expenditure states in Nigeria. These findings are robust and external validity while using different approaches like; different catastrophic health expenditure thresholds, continuous classical regression, Wave 1 (2011), Wave 2 (2013), and Wave 3 (2016) survey datasets. Based on the findings, one policy implication is the need to design, develop, and implement policies that seek to reduce or eradicate households' energy poverty. This is shown to reduce the catastrophic health expenditure of the households. • Households' energy behaviours trickle-down to other areas of the household. • Substantially, energy poverty increases households' catastrophic health expenses. • In Nigeria, this causal impact (of energy poverty) is about 0.104% points. • Besides, this causal impact is spatially significant across the 37 states of Nigeria‥ [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Can macro- and micronutrient consumption be measured by household surveys? • To answer that we conduct a survey experiment with six commonly used modules. • The 7-day recall module performs better, on average. • That average conceals heterogeneity and, possibly, off-setting errors. The nutrition transition in developing countries has increased interest in moving the measurement and analysis of nutritional choice beyond calories to a more complete understanfding of macro- and micronutrient consumption. To help move the literature on data collection forward we randomly assigned six different survey modules to measure food consumption across Tanzania, three using diaries and three using recall methods. These modules were chosen to reflect the variety of modules currently in use in multi-purpose household surveys collecting food consumption expenditures in some detail at a national scale. Using the percentage consumed relative to daily recommended intake of calories, protein, fats, sugars, fiber and 16 micronutrients, we find that the household diaries and 14-day recall systematically underestimate nutrient consumption compared to the benchmark personal diaries. The 7-day recall performs better, on average. We also calculate minimum cost diets and cost-of-basic needs food poverty lines in each region, the prevalence and depth of food poverty according to these lines, and the cost of targeted transfers designed to eliminate food poverty. The 7-day recall provides reasonable results whereas the 14-day recall grossly overestimates food poverty and therefore raises the cost of hypothetical monetary transfers needed to alleviate this poverty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]