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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]

This paper takes as its starting point the analytical distinction between a 'difference-making' approach and a 'production approach' to poverty, both of which relate to the causes of poverty and how it is measured. Although asset indices have been criticized for merely addressing correlates of poverty, we maintain that it can in fact provide an understanding of households' conditions of reproduction and in turn, reflect upon relational aspects of poverty. We draw on household surveys in two selected villages in Bangladesh and use an asset index as a proxy for overall level of welfare. The asset scores were able to distinguish across sharecropper households but could not distinguish across landholdings, except in one site. Moreover, the asset scores show how migration can have transformative effects on welfare outcomes and at the same time constitute a fragile and uneven process that does not reap benefits to all. We demonstrate how the asset index, albeit an imperfect measure, when carefully constructed, can in fact shed light on the structural causes of poverty. [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]

Background: Household food insecurity and under-nutrition remain critically important in developing countries struggling to emerge from the scourge of poverty, where historically, improvements in economic conditions have benefited only certain privileged groups, causing growing inequality in health and healthcare among the population. Methods: Utilizing information from 5,977 children aged 0-59 months included in the 2004 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey , this study examined the relationship between household wealth inequality and chronic childhood under-nutrition. A child is defined as being chronically undernourished or whose growth rate is adversely stunted, if his or her z-score of height-for-age is more than two standard deviations below the median of international reference. Household wealth status is measured by an established index based on household ownership of durable assets. This study utilized multivariate logistic regressions to estimate the effect of household wealth status on adverse childhood growth rate. Results: The results indicate that children in the poorest 20% of households are more than three time as likely to suffer from adverse growth rate stunting as children from the wealthiest 20% of households (OR=3.6; 95% CI: 3.0, 4.3). The effect of household wealth status remain significantly large when the analysis was adjusted for a child's multiple birth status, age, gender, antenatal care, delivery assistance, birth order, and duration that the child was breastfed; mother's age at childbirth, nutritional status, education; household access to safe drinking water, arsenic in drinking water, access to a hygienic toilet facility, cooking fuel cleanliness, residence, and geographic location (OR=2.4; 95% CI: 1.8, 3.2). Conclusion: This study concludes that household wealth inequality is strongly associated with childhood adverse growth rate stunting. Reducing poverty and making services more available and accessible to the poor are essential to improving overall childhood health and nutritional status in Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study determines the spatial variation of rural poverty in Bangladesh and its relation to people’s livelihood assets affecting their ability to procure food. We estimated household income for over 1 million census households using a predictor model based on a nationally representative sample survey data set. We computed and mapped poverty indices for 415 rural subdistricts revealing distinct areas with high poverty incidence that correspond with ecologically depressed areas. However, other livelihood-influencing factors such as education, accessibility and services are significantly correlated with poverty. This indicates the need for continued focus on providing education and access to income-generating opportunities so that the poor can better meet their food needs. Geographically weighted regression analysis indicated spatial differences in the relative importance of various poverty-influencing factors. Multivariate clustering of the local parameter (β) estimates of the determinant factors revealed distinct spatial relationships, which have implications on poverty alleviation interventions specific to the different regions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]