Multidimensional poverty measure and analysis: a case study from Hechi City, China

Area of Science:

• Socioeconomic Geography
• Environmental Science
• Development Studies

Background:

• China's anti-poverty initiatives require refined measurement tools.
• Sustainable human-environment development necessitates understanding poverty's multidimensional nature.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a multidimensional poverty measure and analysis methodology for Chinese counties.
• To identify and analyze factors contributing to poverty in poverty-stricken regions.
• To evaluate poverty characteristics under diverse geographic and socioeconomic conditions.

Main Methods:

• Development of a multidimensional poverty indicator set with Chinese characteristics.
• Integration of A-F double cutoffs, dimensional aggregation/decomposition, and GIS spatial analysis.
• Case study analysis of 11 counties in Hechi City.

Main Results:

• Each county exhibited poverty in at least four dimensions; poverty levels showed a "surrounding higher, middle lower" spatial pattern.
• Key poverty factors included unsafe housing, family health, and adult illiteracy, with strong spatial autocorrelation.
• Poverty degree correlated positively with rocky desertification and topographic fragmentation.

Conclusions:

• The methodology effectively identifies, locates, and characterizes the poor in specific regions.
• Findings support the development of differentiated poverty alleviation measures tailored to local conditions.
• Understanding multidimensional poverty is crucial for effective policy implementation and sustainable development.