Authors : A.S. Oyekale and F.Y. Okunmadewa
Abstract: Poverty measurement has recently shifted from the income/expenditure unidimensional approach to multidimensional all inclusive poverty indicators. This study constructs some composite indicators of multidimensional poverty and determines some socio-economic factors influencing them. Data collected in 2002 from 1686 households in Abia State, Nigeria, were used. Fuzzy set was used to compute poverty indices while Tobit regression was carried out. The multidimensional poverty index is 27.76% for the population and rural areas have higher poverty intensity than the urban areas. Poverty simulation shows drastic reduction if almost everybody has access to electricity, good toilet, water and food. Tobit regression shows that households� male headship, literacy and urbanization significantly reduce multidimensional poverty. It was recommended that increased literacy will reduce poverty with special focus on rural dwellers.
A.S. Oyekale and F.Y. Okunmadewa , 2008. Fuzzy Set Approach to Multidimensional Poverty Analysis in Abia State, Nigeria. Research Journal of Applied Sciences, 3: 490-495.