Poverty measurement for a binational population

Authors

  • Anita Alves Pena Department of Economics, Colorado State University, 1771 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1771 anita.pena@colostate.edu.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59670/ml.v10i2.147

Keywords:

poverty measurement, immigration, transnational population, cost-of-living

Abstract

Traditional poverty measures are inappropriate for migrant populations. Frequently cited poverty thresholds are calculated under assumptions that individuals and their families face only one set of prices annually. This study formulates (and contrasts to current thresholds) alternative measures for a population that spends substantial time in two (or more) countries. Specifically, weights are developed based on annual week allocations, income, family characteristics, and comparative price levels. As illustration, an example demonstrating how alternative thresholds can be generated for those whose annual work spans international boundaries is drawn from the Mexico-US migration context using survey data, official thresholds, and these weights. Despite caveats due to data limitations for the case study, illustrations should be of interest academically and to those involved in ground-level statistical calculations pertaining to demographic trends and the welfare state. 

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Published

2013-05-31

How to Cite

Pena, A. A. (2013). Poverty measurement for a binational population. Migration Letters, 10(2), 254–269. https://doi.org/10.59670/ml.v10i2.147