AN ALTERNATIVE MULTIDIMENTIONAL POVERTY INDICATOR FOR VENEZUELA

Abstract

Introduction: an alternative multidimentional poverty indicator was developed for the Venezuelan scenario, in order to estimate the factors that contribute this social phenomenon, using the data collected from the survey sample household. Materials and Methods: Using the multivariate Multiple Correspondence Analysis technique, it was determined the variables that distinguish in a greater scale the behavior of the data, and their weightings through the factorial loads. This way the equation for the proposed indicator can be created. Results: The households were classified under analysis in three groups, homes that aren’t under poverty circumstances, poor homes, and others that are in extreme poverty. The indicator showed that the more significant variables represent the weak conditions of the infrastructure and the access to basic services. Discussion: the classification obtained was similar to the one obtained by the National Statistics Institute through the Unsatisfied Basic Needs methodology , offering an indicator that allows to estimate the percentage of homes that are under poverty and extreme poverty conditions, from a multidirectional point of view. Conclusions: Due to the construction of the mentioned indicator a new methodology is proposed for the poverty research, from the multidimensional point of view, where the variables and their importance at the moment of the household classification is not left to the investigator to decide, but the methodology
would establish the parameters in a direct manner.