The level of poverty in South Africa: Consideration of an experiential measure

Abstract

Poverty is usually measured on a basis that is either subjective (respondent's perceptions) or objective (relating to some externally set standard). This article draws on an ‘experiential’ measure of poverty in which respondents with children report on whether or not they have had sufficient money to feed their children. Data from South Africa's 1994 October Household Survey showed that this and other measures revealed similar levels of poverty. However, the picture drawn of the social distribution of poverty suggests a higher incidence amongst those in squatter settlements and a lower incidence in rural areas.

Notes

Professor of Sociology and Head of Department, University of Natal, Durban. The author is grateful to the Central Statistical Service for access to their excellent survey data, and to Valerie Moller and particularly Richard Devey of the Centre for Social and Development Studies, University of Natal, Durban, for their assistance in preparing the data for this article. Thanks too to Francie Lund, Libby Ardington and an anonymous reader for drawing my attention to points needing clarification. The analyses and interpretations remain my own responsibility.