Poverty measurement

Stewart Lansley and Joanna Mack explore the trends in inequality and poverty pre and post the Thatcher years and find inequality grew sharply in the years after 1979. Add your comments to the debate.

Only a quarter of the world's multi-dimensionally poor people, and just a third of those who are severely multi-dimensionally poor, live in the world’s poorest countries. That's the conclusion of a new paper from the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative, which has pioneered the use of multi-dimensional poverty indices that measure not just living standards but also factors such as health and education.

A broader poverty measure is needed for older people that looks beyond low income, according to research published by the Department for Work and Pensions.

Two linked pieces of research look at material deprivation among older people. The first study provides in-depth quantitative analysis of the material deprivation and low income experiences of older people, based on Family Resources Survey (FRS) data. The second is a qualitative study comprising 29 in-depth interviews with pensioners aged 65 and over, exploring the non-income factors that 'push down’ or 'pull up’ their material circumstances across four categories: basic needs, dealing with financial shocks, housing needs and meeting social needs.

As many as nine out of ten people say children can be described as living in poverty if their parents are addicted to drugs or alcohol, according to an opinion survey carried out for the government. This is more than the proportion who say lack of money is a factor in child poverty.

The results come from a survey carried out in December 2012 by GfK NOP. 967 people were contacted by telephone. They were asked the question: 'Could you please tell me how important you think each of the following are when deciding whether someone is growing up in poverty?' (followed by a list of 12 options, of which people could pick up to four).