C0049 - POVERTÀ E DISUGUAGLIANZA: DATI, MISURE ED ANALISI

Learning outcomes

The course aims to provide students with the skills needed to analyze poverty, inequality, and deprivation, understand the nature of the indicators used at the national and international levels, and interpret the statistical information produced based on official surveys. The temporal evolution of inequality, poverty mapping, and policies to combat poverty will also be explored.

Course contents

The course consists of two modules. Module 1 will illustrate poverty and inequality indicators, the characteristics of data sources with particular reference to the national and European context, and the estimators of these indicators. Module 2 will focus on measuring poverty and inequality using microdata from the World Bank library. The course will be supported by the use of software that has developed context-specific tools.

Module 2

1. The distribution of income and wealth
2. Absolute and relative poverty
3. incidence and intensity of poverty
4. Multidimensional poverty
5. Persistence in poverty
6. Economic insecurity
7. Deprivation
8. Inequality
9. Data sources: sample surveys and administrative sources
10. Estimators of poverty and inequality parameters in complex survey designs

Module 1

1. Introduction to the course and main concepts
2. Introduction to statistical software
3. Introduction to World Bank Microdata
4. Global poverty: concept and measurement
5. Poverty in low- and middle-income countries
6. Measuring global poverty with microdata
7. Global Inequality: An Overview
8. Distribution of income and consumption
9. Measuring inequality with alternative metrics
10. Measuring the highest incomes
11. Measuring the lowest incomes
12. Adjusting poverty and inequality measures for non-response
13. Generate a poverty profile
14. Generate an inequality profile
15. Poverty and inequality profiles using microdata

Readings/Bibliography

Module 1

Teaching materials used in class

Wolff EN (2009), Poverty and income distribution, Wiley-Blackwell.

Alfons A., Templ M. (2013), Estimation of Social Exclusion Indicators from Complex Surveys: The R Package laeken, Journal of Statistical Software, 54, 15, 1-25

Module 2

Slides published on the course website after the lessons

Duclos, J. and Araar, A. (2006) Poverty and Equity: Measurement, Policy and Estimation with DAD, Springer, New York https://idrc-crdi.ca/en/books/poverty-and-equity-measurement-policy-and-estimation-dad

Teaching methods

Explanation of methods for the statistical study of poverty and inequality. Part of the lessons will be held in a computer lab, with the aim of working with real data generated by the main sample surveys on the topic. This activity will allow students to independently process individual income information using dedicated packages. To highlight the scope of the phenomena covered, attention will be given to examining the most significant reports published in Italy, Europe, and around the world on these topics.

Assessment methods

Learning is assessed through an oral exam and is designed to assess the student's understanding and depth of understanding of the topics, their ability to make logical-deductive connections, and their command of basic vocabulary. Students must demonstrate knowledge of the methods illustrated in class and their characteristics, their ability to apply them in statistical data analysis, their ability to comment on the results obtained, and their ability to use the tools used in the computer lab.

Teaching tools

Teaching materials available at: https://virtuale.unibo.it/

Office hours

See the website of Maria Ferrante

See the website of Paolo Verme