Economic Development Indices Questions Medium
The Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) is a measure that goes beyond traditional income-based measures of poverty to provide a more comprehensive understanding of poverty. It was developed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI).
The MPI takes into account multiple dimensions of poverty, including health, education, and standard of living, to assess the overall well-being of individuals and households. It identifies individuals who are deprived in multiple dimensions simultaneously, providing a more nuanced understanding of poverty.
The MPI uses a set of indicators to measure deprivation in each dimension. These indicators can include factors such as nutrition, child mortality, years of schooling, access to clean water, sanitation facilities, electricity, and assets. By considering these various dimensions, the MPI captures the complex nature of poverty and provides a more accurate representation of the living conditions of individuals and households.
The MPI assigns a poverty score to each individual or household based on the number and intensity of deprivations they experience. A person is considered multidimensionally poor if they are deprived in at least one-third of the weighted indicators. The intensity of poverty is measured by the percentage of weighted indicators in which a person is deprived.
The MPI is widely used by governments, international organizations, and researchers to monitor and track progress in poverty reduction efforts. It helps policymakers identify the specific dimensions in which individuals are most deprived, allowing for targeted interventions and policies to address these deprivations.
Overall, the Multidimensional Poverty Index provides a more comprehensive and holistic approach to measuring poverty, taking into account various dimensions of well-being. It helps to identify the most vulnerable populations and guide effective poverty reduction strategies.