THE APPLICATION OF MULTIDIMENSIONAL POVERTY MAPS TO HIGH-INCOME COUNTRIES: A PROJECT PROPOSAL FOR ALLEN COUNTY, INDIANA, USA

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"In high-income countries poverty maps are typically applied to represent concentrations of poor populations according to a single demographic variable, such as race. Notwithstanding, in low to mid-income countries these maps are used to maximum effect in that they represent different gradations of adverse living conditions understood as unmet basic needs. Our aim in this paper is to offer a model for the study of multidimensional poverty in high-income countries –Allen County, Indiana– that is able to capture the ways in which problems of need in housing, educa-tion, health, employment, nutrition, and environmental safety combine to produce households with joint disadvantages. We believe that multidimensional poverty maps constitute a superior way to grasp the needs of populations than single variable maps or poverty line methods. Data gathering will proceed by mailing a questionnaire to a sample of 3500 households in Allen Coun-ty. Data will be processed through the application of cluster analysis and GIS mapping tech-niques. The presentation of these detailed estimates in the form of maps is a powerful communication tool that is readily understandable by a wide audience; further, mapping creates an important opportunity for different actors to join in the public debate on poverty."