Spatial maps: targeting & mapping poverty

Abstract

A classic definition of poverty is ‘the inability to attain a minimal standard of living’ measured in terms of basic consumption needs or the income required for satisfying them. Poverty is thus characterized by the failure of individuals, households or entire communities to command sufficient resources to satisfy their basic necessities. Consumption based poverty lines are primarily concerned with physical measures of well being. The inability to attain minimal standards of consumption to meet basic physiological criteria is often termed absolute poverty or deprivation.