Can a subjective poverty line be applied to China? Assessing poverty among urban residents in 1999

In: Journal of international development: the journal of the Development Studies Association, Volume 16, Issue 8, p. 1089-1107

Abstract

AbstractFor the first time, subjective poverty line methodology is applied to China. The data refer to 12 cities for the year 1999. A major conclusion is that poverty counts, based on the subjective poverty line, is surprisingly close to those obtained when applying the methodology used when providing official estimates on poverty in urban China. However, the opinions of the general public can differ considerably across cities. Applying the poverty line we find substantial variation across cities in the extent of poverty. Poverty status in urban China is very much related to education level of the household, to life cycle, as well as to labour market status. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.