The Hard Core of Poverty in Senegal

Abstract

Departing from the limits of classical methods of measuring poverty, this paper introduces the profile of the core poverty in Senegal in order to circumvent E-F errors that infect poverty targeting. For this purpose, three poverty indicators based on expenditures, assets and relative deprivation are combined. The study highlights the multiple dimensions of poverty and shows that the phenomenon is widespread in Senegal: roughly two out of every eleven people lack monetary resources to satisfy basic needs and have difficulty achieving an adequate standard of living. Contrary to previous studies, the core poverty approach is very useful in diagnosing poverty in Senegal, as it provides evidence of the vulnerability of women - in particular widows and divorcees - and the unskilled.

Keywords: Poverty, Monetary indicator, Comparative Poverty, Patrimony, Hard Core, Senegal

JEL Classification: I31, I32, O55