러시아ㆍ유라시아

This paper presents a new model for defining the poverty line using the Kakwani (2010) approach and developing a possible candidate for the construction of a new official poverty line. The model uses consumer theory to construct both food and non-food poverty thresholds and ensures that the poverty line is consistent across regions. Namely, it is of great importance to review a new unique measure for transition countries because there is a lack of statistics and research in these countries because their governments denied the existence of poverty during the socialist years. The methodology developed in this paper is used to illustrate the construction of a poverty threshold and poverty rates in Croatia, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland, Latvia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Slovenia and Russia for the period 2000-2010. The focus on poverty in transition countries was placed in the former Soviet bloc; for that reason, the benchmark country used to illustrate the methodology for the above period was Russia. Because there are considerable differences in the methods used for poverty estimates, as well as insufficient and incomplete statistics, proposal for a new unique measure would serve as a “tool” for the prompt application of adequate social policies for transition countries.