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Jurnal Ekonomi Malaysia

56 (3) 2022 185 – 195

Research Note

 

The Adoption of the Multidimensional Poverty Index in Developing Asia: Implications for Social Program Targeting and Inequality Reduction

United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
P.O. Box 11-8575
Riad el-Solh Square, Beirut, LEBANON.

vhlasny@gmail.com

School of Business
Monash University Malaysia
46150 Bandar Sunway, Selangor, MALAYSIA

niaz.asadullah@monash.edu

United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
P.O. Box 11-8575
Riad el-Solh Square, Beirut, LEBANON.

sabraa@un.org

Abstract

The size and effectiveness of government expenditure is widely acknowledged as critical for global inequality reduction and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Yet, in addition to fiscal limits, governments in poor countries face a host of administrative constraints for effective targeting of social spending. Similar governance deficits also affect many Asian middle-income countries. It is in this context that this paper revisits the call for countries to embrace multidimensional poverty and inequality instruments in poverty program planning and implementation throughout developing Asia. We do so by critically reviewing the related academic and policy literature and taking stock of how multidimensional poverty indices (MPI) are presently utilized in the process of designing, adopting and evaluating social protection strategies across developing Asia in general, and in the Middle East in particular. The relative pros and cons of the MPI and the proxy means tests (PMT), their respective records of implementation, and the prospects of applying them in tandem are discussed. In conclusion, we assess the policy significance and promise of an approach that integrates MPI and PMT, and discuss whether and under what circumstances, such as approach can be effective in the area of social program targeting and tailoring, particularly in middle-income Asian countries.

 

Keywords

Multidimensional poverty index; poverty targeting; proxy means test.; social protection

JEL Codes

H72, I0, I32, I38, P46
http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/JEM-2022-5603-10
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Hlasny, V., Asadullah, M. N., & Sabra, A. (2022). The Adoption of the Multidimensional Poverty Index in Developing Asia: Implications for Social Program Targeting and Inequality Reduction. Jurnal Ekonomi Malaysia, 56(3), 185–195. http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/JEM-2022-5603-10

@article{hlasny2022adoption,
  title={The Adoption of the Multidimensional Poverty Index in Developing Asia: Implications for Social Program Targeting and Inequality Reduction},
  author={Hlasny, Vladimir and Asadullah, M Niaz and Sabra, Alia},
  journal={Jurnal Ekonomi Malaysia},
  volume={56},
  number={3},
  pages={185—195},
 

year={2022},
}

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