Perspectives on Child Poverty: A Review of Poverty Measures


Posted on 05-04-2009	Translate this page

Working Paper by Howard White, Jennifer Leavy and Andrew Masters
Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex
Young Lives: An International Study of Childhood Poverty

Abstract: Developed country measures of child poverty are dominated by income-poverty, although health and education are often included. But , these are not necessarily the most direct measures of the things that matter to children.

A broader range of factors other than material well-being matter for child development; specifically, family and community play an important role. The conclusion is that social and psychological variables are an important component of child welfare.

Child development concerns are at least as important in developing countries as developed ones (if less well
understood). Hence approaches to child welfare in developing countries (both measurement and policy) should also adopt a broad-based approach which embraces diverse aspects of the quality of a child’s life, including child rights. Download the entire paper by clicking below.

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