-
The Statistical Analysis Of Poverty As A Disease In Nigeria
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 4]
Page 3 of 4
-
-
-
1.13 DEFINITION OF TERMS
a) POVERTY:
According
to the Nigeria Millennium Development Goals (2005 report). This is
defined as a situation that is essentially about human deprivation.
Hence, it is about lack or limited access to essential capabilities that
could facilitate a long and healthy life, becoming more knowledgeable,
maintaining an adequate standard of living, and participating
meaningfully in decisions that affects one’s life.
b) ABSOLUTE POVERTY:
This
is defined as the lack of resources to consume certain bundle of goods
and services. Such a bundle of goods and services may contain what could
be considered an objective minimum which include the basic necessities
of life such as food, shelter, clothing, among others (Source: Federal
Office of Statistics (FOS): [Socioeconomic profile of Nigeria (1996].
c) RELATIVE POVERTY:
According
to the Federal Office of statistics: [Socioeconomic profile of Nigeria
(1996)], this is defined with respect to living standards that prevail
in a particular society. Hence an advantage of relative poverty line is
that it reflects changing perception of acceptable minimum living
standards. Thus, while electricity, pipe borne water, indoor sanitation,
are considered essential in very rich societies, they may not be so in
poorer ones.
d) POVERTY LINE:
According to the Federal
Office of statistics: [Socioeconomic profile of Nigeria. (1996)],
Poverty line is defined as a proportion usually fifty percent (50%) of
average income.
e) MEASURES OF POVERTY:
As it is
defined by the Federal Office of statistics: [socioeconomic profile of
Nigeria. (1996)], this is the measure by which poverty levels in a
society can be quantified and classified. There are basically two common
measures of poverty and they are headcount ratio and poverty gap
respectively.
i. HEADCOUNT RATIO: According to Baridhan
(1973), and Ahluwalia (1976), this is defined as the ratio of
individuals or households whose income fall below the poverty line.
ii.
POVERTY GAP: This is a traditional measure of poverty which measures
the average deviation of the incomes of the poor from the poverty line.
f) SOCIOECONOMIC INDICATORS
These
are defined as what is said to constitute the means or measure or
pointer for assessing an event, be it social, economic or demography.
There are mainly two types of socioeconomic indicators, and they are
social indicators and economic indicators.
i. SOCIAL
INDICATORS: Are defined as a construct based on observations and usually
quantitative ones, that tells something about aspects of social life of
interest or about changes taking place in that aspect of social life.
Examples are: Qualitative education, proper medical care, Good an
convenient standard of living, among others.
ii. ECONOMIC
INDICATORS: Are defined as derived quantities obtained in respect of
economic statistics.
g) DISEASE:
Is
defined as an unhealthy condition of the “mind or body†the words in
quotes could be the social or economic conditions of a society.
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 4]
Page 3 of 4
-
