Resources, Deprivation, and Poverty [Hardcover]

The core issue of this book is how to define and measure poverty in relatively rich countries in a way which is valid, meaningful in the context, and valuable for policy-making. The authors concentrate on theidentificationof the poor, rather than the subsequentaggregationof the statistics to derive an overall index of poverty--which is the focus of most recent literature. They show that poverty in developed countries cannot be understood and measured simply using current income. Those who are excluded from participation in society can be more accurately identified if broader measures of resources and direct idicators of deprivation are used. The issues are illustrated by data from a specially designed survey of a large representative sample of Irish households.

1. Introduction
2. The Meaning and Measurement of Poverty
3. Income Poverty
4. Measuring Deprivation
5. Income, Resources, and Deprivation
6. Income, Deprivation, and Poverty
7. Class, Underclass, and Poverty
8. Implications for Conceptualizing and Measuring Poverty
9. Implications for Tackling Poverty.
10. Conclusions
Appendices
References
Index

...They offer a definition of poverty that is multidimensional, dynamic, and based as much on the nonmaterial capabilities of inividuals as on their material resources. --Contemporary Sociology

..the book provides very useful updates on recent developments in the literature including commentaries on the 'underclass' debate and the writings of Amartya Sen. These are particularly good and will be helpful not only to poverty researchers but to students looking for comprehensive summaries of the field. --Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare

Nolan and Whelan provide a thorough, well-rounded and focused analysis of what ought to be the first step in poverty policy: understanding the complexity of poverty. --Contemporary Sociology

...the booklS.