The equivalence of totally fuzzy and relative approaches of poverty index definitions : a comparative analysis of Palestinian data

Other Title(s)

تكافؤ طرق قياس و تعريف الفقر( دراسة مقارنة بين الطرق التقليدية وطريقة الفزي)‎ : تطبيقات على الأراضي الفلسطينية

Dissertant

al-Salih, Jawad

Thesis advisor

Dawud, Yusuf

Comitee Members

Abu Libdih, Uthman
al-Botmeh, Samyah

University

Birzeit University

Faculty

Faculty of Arts

Department

Department of Geography

University Country

Palestine (West Bank)

Degree

Master

Degree Date

2006

English Abstract

The objective of this thesis is to test a new application of poverty measurement to Palestinian data.

This approach, Totally Fuzzy Relative method (TFR), has been applied to other countries and is said to provide a more comprehensive measurement of poverty.

Other approaches used in the literature are also applied, primarily for comparison purposes.

In this thesis, two approaches are used to estimate the determinants of poverty in the Occupied Palestinian Territory; the first approach is the monetary approach and the second is the Totally Fuzzy Relative method.

To compare the results of the two approaches and analyze their differences many statistical techniques were used, especially the descriptive analysis covering the percentages and the overlapping between these results.

In addition, a legit regression and a cluster analysis using Latent class analysis approach were used.

The analysis is based on the available data of the Household Expenditure and Consumption Survey (HECS).

This survey was conducted by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS), starting on January 15th 2004 and ending on January 14th 2005 Results show that various definitions and approaches give different results.

For example, using absolute definition of poverty, about 26.0 % of the Palestinian households are classified as poor in 2004 ; if the national poverty line is used, 25.0 % of households are poor; compared with 39.0 % 1 if US$2 poverty line is used, (using income data), and 51.0 % if the original specification of TFR is used.

There are advantages and disadvantages for each method and that the TFR method covers a wider array of attributes for the measurement of poverty.

There is a need to use different poverty indices and make the comparisons between them, to have a comprehensive picture of poverty and to see what poverty measure will be used and accepted by policy makers for poverty reduction plans.

Each poverty index has its drawbacks.

For example, the monetary index is easily identified, but it is too summarized and leads to loss of information and may lead to irrelevant comparisons.

The TFR set suffers from explanation and the possibilities of comparing indices.

With all its drawbacks, the TFR seems to give more robust picture about poverty in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, compared with the monetary approach.

However, there is a need to identify acceptable poverty variables for the Occupied Palestinian Territory to be accepted by officials and the public at large.

For policy purposes, there is a need to look at and use the two approaches if poverty has to be looked at as a development issue not only as emergency issue.

Main Subjects

Social Sciences (Multidisciplinary)

Topics

• Poverty
• Measurement
• Palestine

No. of Pages

98

Table of Contents

• APA
• MLA
• AMA

Language

English

Data Type

Arab Theses

Record ID

BIM-302095