Abstract

This chapter examines different approaches to the measurement of multidimensional inequality and poverty. It first outlines three aspects preliminary to any multidimensional study: the selection of the relevant dimensions, the indicators used to measure them, and the procedures for their weighting.

Handbook of Income Distribution, Volume 2A

ISSN 1574-0056, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-59428-0.00004-7 then considers the counting approach and the axiomatic treatment in poverty measurement. Finally, it reviews the axiomatic approach to inequality analysis. The chapter also provides a selective review of the rapidly growing theoretical literature with the twofold aim of highlighting areas for future research and offering some guidance on howto use multidimensional methods in empirical and policy-oriented applications.

Keywords

Inequality, Poverty, Deprivation, Multidimensional well-being, Capabilities and functionings

JEL Classification Codes

D3, D63, I30, I32

3.1.