Measuring Multidimensional Poverty in Latin America: Previous Experience and the Way Forward

This paper states the need to design a multidimensional poverty index for the Latin America region (LAMPI) that can monitor poverty trends in a cross-country comparable way, yet is also relevant to the particular regional context. We review the region’s rich experience with multidimensional poverty measurement, as well as Europe’s experiences with multidimensional measurement. We set a number of requirements for the LA-MPI to satisfy and specify the methodological criterions necessary to fulfill such requirements. Drawing from the review, we outline an LA-MPI composed of five dimensions: basic consumptions, education, health, housing and basic services, and work. We list the indicators within those dimensions that are desirable, as well as what indicators are feasible given existing data constraints. Santos MD poverty in Latin America The Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) is a research centre within the Oxford Department of International Development, Queen Elizabeth House, at the University of Oxford. Led by Sabina Alkire, OPHI aspires to build and advance a more systematic methodological and economic framework for reducing multidimensional poverty, grounded in people’s experiences and values. This publication is copyright, however it may be reproduced without fee for teaching or non-profit purposes, but not for resale. Formal permission is required for all such uses, and will normally be granted immediately. For copying in any other circumstances, or for re-use in other publications, or for translation or adaptation, prior written permission must be obtained from OPHI and may be subject to a fee. Oxford Poverty & Human Development Initiative (OPHI) Oxford Department of International Development Queen Elizabeth House (QEH), University of Oxford 3 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TB, UK Tel. +44 (0)1865 271915 Fax +44 (0)1865 281801 [email protected] http://www.ophi.org.uk The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s). Publication does not imply endorsement by OPHI or the University of Oxford, nor by the sponsors, of any of the views expressed. Resumen Este trabajo plantea la necesidad de diseñar un índice de pobreza multidimensional para la región de América Latina (IPM-AL) que sirva para monitorear las tendencias de la pobreza de un modo comparable entre países y al mismo tiempo relevante para el contexto regional. El trabajo presenta una revisión de la rica experiencia en la región en materia de medición multidimensional de la pobreza, como así también la experiencia Europea. Establecemos una serie de requisitos que el IPM-AL debería satisfacer y especificamos los criterios metodológicos a seguir para satisfacer tales requisitos. Basándonos en la revisión bibliográfica, esbozamos un IPM-LA compuesto por cinco dimensiones: consumos básicos, educación, salud, vivienda y servicios básicos y empleo, establecemos para cada dimensión los indicadores deseables como así también los indicadores posibles, dadas las restricciones de los datos.