The Importance of Choice and Definition for the Measurement of Child Poverty—the case of Vietnam

• DOI: 10.1007/s12187-008-9028-0
• Publication Date: 2009-01-07T10:37:49Z
• Authors: Keetie Roelen; Franziska Gassmann; Chris de Neubourg
• Keywords: Position (finance); Child Poverty; Foundation (evidence)

Increased attention to childrens' special position within poverty measurement resulted in the development of various child approaches last decade. Analysis shows that their processes involve a similar set steps and decisions, predominantly taken same sequence. However, it also becomes apparent many these decisions are made implicitly rather than explicitly, resulting unclear non-transparent underlying constructs. Consequently, often lack solid robust foundation misinterpreted misunderstood when used for analytical policy purposes. This paper distills generic construction process from analysis existing approaches, presenting tool clear transparent such approaches. It is then applied case Vietnam, using household survey data, illustrate its practical use develop Vietnam-specific approach. Findings suggest 37% all children poor, whilst observing large rural-urban divide but no significant differences between boys girls.