Extending multidimensional poverty identification: from additive weights to minimal bundles

Abstract In the popular class of multidimensional poverty measures introduced by Alkire and Foster (2011), a threshold switching function is used to identify who multidimensionally poor. This paper shows that weights cut-off employed in this procedure are generally not unique such functions implicitly assume all groups deprivation indicators some fixed size perfect substitutes. To address these limitations, I show how identification can be extended incorporate any type positive function, represented set minimal bundles define unit as Furthermore, Banzhaf power index, uniquely defined from same bundles, constitutes natural robust metric relative importance each indicator, which adjusted headcount estimated. demonstrate merit approach using data Mozambique, including decomposition ‘one dimension’ non-threshold function.