본문 바로가기
  • Home

Measuring Multidimensional Child Poverty in Korea: New approach to Measure Material Deprivation of Children

Eunju Kim 1

1Visiting fellow, Centre for the Study of Poverty and Social Justice(Townsend Centre for Internationa

Accredited

ABSTRACT

This study aims to measure child poverty in Korea with multidimensional poverty index. Although poor children have been deprived in many aspects of living standards, poverty measurement based on household income comes short of identifying children’s deprivation. In this sense, this study attempts to measure child poverty drawing on the theoretical discourses of relative deprivation by Peter Townsend who defines poverty with standard of living, as well as income. It suggests multidimensional deprivation index that comprises five component variables within four dimensions- Shelter, Food/nutrition, Health and Education. After reviewing validity and reliability of the index, it estimates optimum poverty threshold considering standard of living and income. According to the analysis of 2008 KOREA National Survey on Children and Youth Data, child poverty rate measured with multidimensional poverty index is higher than conventional income poverty rate. In addition, a range of socio- economic and demographic variables are analysed to come up with characteristics of poor households with children. Child poverty rate appears to be higher in the rural area, household headed by aged over 60s, lone-parent, single mother, and working poor household. Based on the findings, this study suggests for child policy to introduce more inclusive poverty measurement and directly target specific needy group.

Citation status

* References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.