Search

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]

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]

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]

Income distribution measures obtained from standard household income surveys are usually published with a significant delay, of about 2 years. In this paper we propose a methodology for obtaining timelier indicators using the Italian Labour Force Survey (ILFS), a database which collects detailed information not only on individuals' labour market status, but also on their households and wages. We develop a framework to estimate household labour income and we use it to construct distributional indicators that are available 1 year and half before the standard measures. After discussing the limitations of our approach, we show that the ILFS-based indicators closely track those calculated on standard household income surveys. The suggested indicators are not meant to substitute standard income measures but can offer up-to-date information, with the aim of better monitoring the distributional impact of changing macroeconomic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Residential energy consumption level, structure, and potentiality are crucial indices reflecting economic and social development. In rural China, energy poverty is still prevalent, and economic poverty is a critical factor that deteriorates energy poverty. This paper combines income- and asset-based measures of wealth to provide a more dynamic perspective on the effects of economic poverty on energy poverty. Results show that for the household which in an average asset or income level, when its assets and income increase by 10%, the probability of a household choosing clean fuels increases by 0.007 and 0.002, respectively. Rural household prefers gas than electricity when household income and assets increase. To solve the energy poverty problem in rural areas, governments need to take measures to improve the accumulation of wealth, raise the infrastructure level and increase the employment rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper assesses the effectiveness of microfinance on household income, expenditure and savings. The survey examined those borrowers who had successfully completed at least three cycles of a loan. A household level survey (N=3000) was carried out to collect information about individuals receiving microcredit from one of the largest NGOs, ASA. The authors employed a multiple regression and discovered that the microcredit programme of ASA has a significant positive impact on household income, expenditures and savings. Moreover, the paper reveals that the level of education plays an important and statistically significant role in increasing the household income, expenditure and savings. Hence, the ASA microcredit programme has a positive impact on reducing poverty in Bangladesh and enhancing the competitiveness of deprived rural and urban households in improving their standard of living. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. To compare the predictive power of synthetic absolute income measures with that of asset-based wealth quintiles in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) using child stunting as an outcome. Methods. We pooled data from 239 nationally representative household surveys from LMICs and computed absolute incomes in US dollars based on households' asset rank as well as data on national consumption and inequality levels. We used multivariable regression models to compare the predictive power of the created income measure with the predictive power of existing asset indicator measures. Results. In cross-country analysis, log absolute income predicted 54.5% of stunting variation observed, compared with 20% of variation explained by wealth quintiles. For within-survey analysis, we also found absolute income gaps to be predictive of the gaps between stunting in the wealthiest and poorest households (P < .001). Conclusions. Our results suggest that absolute income levels can greatly improve the prediction of stunting levels across and within countries over time, compared with models that rely solely on relative wealth quintiles. [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]

The South African existing literature on poverty mainly adopted the money-metric approach to examine poverty levels and trends since the advent of democracy. In general, poverty increased until the end of the 1990s, before a downward trend took place. Despite the robust findings on the trends, poverty levels differed because of various reasons, ranging from the use of different poverty lines across the studies, to the adoption of different approaches to collect the income and expenditure information, and the presence of a high proportion of households reporting zero or unspecified income. This article aims to fill the existing research gap by explaining the possible factors accounting for the contrasting poverty levels across the eight commonly used South African censuses and household surveys between 1993 and 2012. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Direct out-of-pocket payments for health care are recognised as limiting access to health care services and also endangering the welfare of households. In Uganda, such payments comprise a large portion of total health financing. This study assesses the catastrophic and impoverishing impact of paying for health care out-of-pocket in Uganda. Methods Using data from the Uganda National Household Surveys 2009/10, the catastrophic impact of out-of-pocket health care payments is defined using thresholds that vary with household income. The impoverishing effect of out-of-pocket health care payments is assessed using the Ugandan national poverty line and the World Bank poverty line ($1.25/day). Results A high level and intensity of both financial catastrophe and impoverishment due to out-ofpocket payments are recorded. Using an initial threshold of 10% of household income, about 23% of Ugandan households face financial ruin. Based on both the $1.25/day and the Ugandan poverty lines, about 4% of the population are further impoverished by such payments. This represents a relative increase in poverty head count of 17.1% and 18.1% respectively. Conclusion The absence of financial protection in Uganda's health system calls for concerted action. Currently, out-of-pocket payments account for a large share of total health financing and there is no pooled prepayment system available. There is therefore a need to move towards mandatory prepayment. In this way, people could access the needed health services without any associated financial consequence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied how income distribution and food security status are related to the quality and quantity of foods consumed by Mexican households. Methods: First, we analyzed current expenditure on eleven food groups across food security levels stratified by income quintiles and food security status, based on 2010 National Income and Expenditure Surveys. Second, we designed and budgeted two 2,000-calorie-per-day diets which cover the daily nutritional requirements of the Mexican population to observe, based on the current income data from the surveys, which households could purchase such diets. Results: Those households that spent the most on food are also those that invest the smallest percentage of their income on food. Monthly per capita expenditure was greater on most food groups in food secure (FS) households and decreased as food insecurity worsened. Statistical analyses of current expenditure on food groups revealed statistically significant differences across income quintiles and food security levels (p<0.05). The standard diet's weekly cost was US$44.89 per person. Households with an average weekly income per capita (US$71.17) and those in the fourth (US$65.25) and fifth (US$181.27) quintiles could afford it, but those in the first (US$14.0), second (US$27.59), and third (US$42.75) quintiles could not. We designed a special diet for low-income groups, with a weekly cost of US$17.79 per person, which could not be afforded by households in the first quintile, even when all their income went to food. Discussion: Based on a descriptive analysis we found that income barriers and food insecurity are related to limited access to nutritious foods and diets among Mexican households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Household income is difficult to measure, since it requires the collection of information about all potential income sources for each member of a household. We assess the effects of two types of edit check questions on measurement error and survey estimates: within-wave edit checks use responses to questions earlier in the same interview to query apparent inconsistencies in responses; dependent interviewing uses responses from prior interviews to query apparent inconsistencies over time. We use data from three waves of the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) to assess the effects of edit checks on estimates, and data from an experimental study carried out in the context of the BHPS, where survey responses were linked to individual administrative records, to assess the effects on measurement error. The findings suggest that interviewing methods without edit checks underestimate non-labour household income in the lower tail of the income distribution. The effects on estimates derived from total household income, such as poverty rates or transition rates into and out of poverty, are small. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using data from a customised household survey in Tonga we assess the responsiveness of migrants' remittances to perceived needs of recipients. We extend a mixed-motives model, incorporating subjectively-assessed recipient welfare. We find evidence supportive of altruism for households below a subjective threshold, implying that remittances provide important social protection for the poor. We also find a positive relationship for those above the threshold implying that welfare improvements in migrant-sending countries could increase or decrease remittance flows depending on pre-transfer welfare level. The effects of remittances on poverty alleviation and income distribution are hence more complex and ambiguous than previous studies suggest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In many areas of Africa, rural livelihoods depend heavily on subsistence farming. Using improved agricultural technologies can increase productivity in smallholder agriculture and thus raise household income and reduce poverty. Data from a nationally representative rural household survey from 2005 is used to assess the impact of four technologies – improved maize seeds, improved granaries, tractor mechanization, and animal traction – on household income in Mozambique. To ensure the robustness of the results, three econometric approaches were used: the doubly-robust estimator, sub-classification and regression, and matching and regression. The results show that, overall, using an improved technology did not have a statistically significant impact on household income. This may be associated with a widespread drought that occurred in 2005. Despite drought, distinguishing between households based on propensity score quintiles revealed that using improved technologies, especially improved maize seeds and tractors, significantly increased the income of those households who had better market access. Thus, to allow households to benefit from the use of improved technologies, policy makers need to reduce structural impediments to market participation by ensuring adequate road infrastructure and enabling access to markets. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Governments, donors and NGOs have promoted environmental and social certification schemes for coffee producers as certified market channels are assumed to offer higher prices and better incomes. Additionally, it is presumed that these certifications contribute to poverty reduction of smallholders. Yet, gross margins, profits and poverty levels of certified smallholder coffee producers have not yet been quantitatively analyzed applying random sampling techniques. Our quantitative household survey of 327 randomly selected members of conventional, organic and organic-fairtrade certified cooperatives in Nicaragua is complemented by over a hundred qualitative in-depth interviews. The results show that although farm-gate prices of certified coffees are higher than of conventional coffees, the profitability of certified coffee production and its subsequent effect on poverty levels is not clear-cut. Per capita net coffee incomes are insufficient to cover basic needs of all coffee producing households. Certified producers are more often found below the absolute poverty line than conventional producers. Over a period of ten years, our analysis shows that organic and organic-fairtrade farmers have become poorer relative to conventional producers. We conclude that coffee yield levels, profitability and efficiency need to be increased, because prices for certified coffee cannot compensate for low productivity, land or labor constraints. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: This study tests the null hypothesis that it is sufficient to interview only the household head to obtain accurate information on household income. Results show that using a husband’s estimate of his wife’s income does not produce statistically reliable results for poverty analysis. Estimates of the wife’s income provided by the husband and wife are in agreement in only 6% of households. While limiting interviews to one person has the advantage of reducing the time and expense of household surveys, this appears detrimental in terms of accuracy, and may lead to incorrect conclusions on the determinants of poverty. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Poverty as measured by the Foster, Greer and Thorbecke methodology is determined by: per capita income of households, inflation and income distribution. The growth of real income tends to reduce poverty. When growth benefits the poorest it's called a "Pro-Poor growth." Pro Poor growth is a new methodology for measuring the impact of income growth on poverty. We analyze the impact on poverty by considering the trade-off between efficiency and equity and because the benefits of growth of real income may be offset by increases in inequality. Two indicators are used to quantify theses effects: the index of Pro-poor growth and the equivalent Poverty growth rate. These indicators make use of techniques for estimating growth-poverty elasticities, and inequality-poverty and the decomposition of growth and distribution purposes with a different methodology to that of Datt and ravallion. The index Pro-Poor growth and equivalent Poverty growth rate are applied to Venezuela for the period 1975-2007, to determine what type of growth has taken the country. The objective is to determine whether or not growth has benefited the lower income sectors. The Household survey sampling database applied by the national institute of statistics (INE) are used for the estimations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Employment is the main source of income for most families in the world. While it is certainly not a new dimension of well-being, it is sometimes forgotten in human development studies and poverty reduction policies or, at least, not considered in the depth it deserves. This paper proposes seven indicators of employment to be added to multi-purpose household surveys that, we argue, are crucial to a comprehensive understanding of causes and implications of poverty around the world. Traditional approaches to labour market indicators present two main weaknesses. First, in most cases, they are not as relevant in the developing world as they are in developed economies, and hence do not provide an accurate picture of labour markets in these countries. Second, surveys that collect a broader set of questions on employment do not always include extensive questions on the household and its members. The indicators proposed are: informal employment; income from employment (including self-employment earnings); occupational hazard; under/over-employment; multiple activities; and discouraged unemployment. The aim is to complement "traditional" indicators to provide a deeper understanding of both the quantity and quality of employment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on household survey information, this study delineates the poverty profile of the elderly in 15 low-income sub-Saharan African countries which include countries with a high and low prevalence of the HIV-AIDS pandemic. The study shows that the poverty situation of the elderly living with children and the elderly-headed households is much worse than the average in many countries. The impact of providing a social pension to the elderly on group-specific and national poverty head-count ratios and poverty gap ratios, and its fiscal implications, are analysed. Simulating various plausible eligibility criteria and benefit levels, the study concludes that while the case for an universal (untargeted) social pension is weak, substantial welfare gains can be obtained at a low cost with a social pension targeted to the poor among the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article argues that our understanding of income and poverty dynamics benefits from taking a life-cycle perspective. A person's age and family circumstances - the factors that shape their life cycle - affect the likelihood of experiencing key life events, such as partnership formation, having children, or retirement; this in turn affects their probability of experiencing rising, falling, or other income trajectories. Using ten waves of the British Household Panel Survey, we analyse the income trajectories of people at different stages in their lives in order to build a picture of income dynamics over the whole life cycle. We find that particular life events are closely associated with either rising or falling trajectories, but that there is considerable heterogeneity in income trajectories following these different events. Typically, individuals experiencing one of these life events are around twice as likely to experience a particular income trajectory, but most individuals will not follow the trajectory most commonly associated with that life event. This work improves our understanding of the financial impact of different life events and provides an indication of how effectively the welfare state cushions people against the potentially adverse impact of these events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives : To examine whether per capita income and income inequality are independently associated with teen birth rate in populous U.S. counties. Methods : This study used 1990 U.S. Census data and National Center for Health Statistics birth data. Income inequality was measured with the 90:10 ratio, a ratio of percent of cumulative income held by the richest and poorest population deciles. Linear regression and analysis of variance were used to assess associations between county-level average income, income inequality, and teen birth rates among counties with population greater than 100,000. Results : Among teens aged 15–17, income inequality and per capita income were independently associated with birth rate; the mean birth rate was 54 per 1,000 in counties with low income and high income inequality, and 19 per 1,000 in counties with high income and low inequality. Among older teens (aged 18–19) only per capita income was significantly associated with birth rate. Conclusions : Although teen childbearing is the result of individual behaviors, these findings suggest that community-level factors such as income and income inequality may contribute significantly to differences in teen birth rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the results of two large household surveys in South Africa, the October Household Survey and the Income and Expenditure Survey of 1995. Comparison of access to resources such as housing and land, and access to basic services across the households; Economic status of women and men living in households with different incomes.

ABSTRACT The Hungarian Household Panel started in 1992 with a representative sample of Hungarian households. The first part of the paper gives a non-technical overview of the design, methods, research questions and possible uses of the study. The second part overviews some of the analytical work undertaken on the dataset and uses illustrative data on labour market changes, incomes, inequalities and poverty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]