Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Book chapters
DOI 10.1007/978-3-030-31711-9_1
Title (Primary) Interdisciplinary perspectives on poverty measurement, epistemic injustices and social activism
Title (Secondary) Dimensions of poverty: Measurement, epistemic injustices, activism
Author Beck, V.; Hahn, H.; Lepenies, R.
Publisher Beck, V.; Hahn, H.; Lepenies, R.
Source Titel Philosophy and Poverty
Year 2020
Department UPOL
Volume 2
Page From 1
Page To 20
Language englisch
Keywords Poverty; Concept of poverty; Multidimensional poverty; Poverty measurement; Epistemic injustice; Social activism
UFZ inventory Leipzig, Bibliothek, Hauptlesesaal, 00448123, 20-0193 DK: 338.23 Dim
Abstract As we enter the 2020s, global poverty is still a grave and persistent problem. Alleviating and eradicating poverty within and across the world’s societies requires a thorough understanding of its nature and extent. Although economists still standardly measure absolute and relative poverty in monetary terms, a consensus is emerging that poverty is a socially relational problem involving deprivations in multiple dimensions, including health, standard of living, education and political participation. The anthology Dimensions of Poverty advances the interdisciplinary debate on multidimensional poverty, and features contributions from leading international experts and early career researchers (including from the Global South). This introductory chapter gives an overview of formative debates, central concepts and key findings. While monetary poverty measures are still dominant in public and academic debate, their explanatory power has been drawn into question. We discuss relevant criticisms before outlining the normative concepts that can inform both multidimensional poverty and monetary measures, including basic capabilities, basic needs and social primary goods. Next, we introduce several influential multidimensional poverty indices, including the Human Development Index and the Multidimensional Poverty Index. The anthology shows in detail how such measures can be improved, from a variety of disciplinary perspectives. It shows that there are different methods of poverty research that require further investigation, including participatory studies, (value) surveys, public consensus building, the constitutional approach, and financial diaries. Finally, we show that there is an ongoing problem of epistemic asymmetries in global poverty research, and discuss responsibility for addressing poverty, including the responsibilities of academics. The remainder of the chapter is dedicated to a more detailed preview of the volume’s 20 contributions, which are assembled along the following five themes: (I) poverty as a social relation; (II) epistemic injustices in poverty research; (III) the social context of poverty; (IV) measuring multidimensional poverty; and (V) country cases.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=23227
Beck, V., Hahn, H., Lepenies, R. (2020):
Interdisciplinary perspectives on poverty measurement, epistemic injustices and social activism
In: Beck, V., Hahn, H., Lepenies, R. (eds.)
Dimensions of poverty: Measurement, epistemic injustices, activism
Philosophy and Poverty 2
Springer, Cham, p. 1 - 20 10.1007/978-3-030-31711-9_1