Pobreza multidimensional en España : una aplicación de la metodología de Alkire y Foster. 2008 - 2015

Considering poverty as a phenomenon that limits the capability of people development in all its dimensions, this work presents a multidimensional study based on the methodology of Alkire and Foster (2011). Its application to Spain, using Living Conditions Survey (ECV2008-ECV2015), generates new evidence on the measurement of multidimensional poverty and its sensitivity to the identification criteria, contributing to the debate on the relevance of this methodology as a reference. The results conclude the increase in multidimensional poverty in the period studied, both in incidence and in intensity, regardless of the selected threshold. Changes in poverty profiles are also observed. Gender gap decreases, although the proportion remains higher in women. The population of 50-64 years suffers the highest incidence throughout the period, although the largest increase (decrease) occurs in young (old) people. Households with children have a clear duality: two adults with one or two children show the lowest levels of poverty, while the rest suffer the highest levels. Couples without children are the only ones showing improvement. By regions, there are widespread increases, with the exception of Extremadura and Galicia that reduce their poverty rates. Largest increases are in Cantabria, Murcia and the Canary Islands. The dimensions of education, economic and labour are the biggest contributors to poverty, with the former showing a clear improvement in the period and the latter a dramatic increase.