B0696
Title: Assessing multidimensional poverty of the Italian provinces during COVID-19: A small area estimation approach
Authors: Mariateresa Ciommi - Università Politecnica delle Marche (Italy) [presenting]
Chiara Gigliarano - LIUC University C.Cattaneo (Italy)
Francesca Mariani - Universita Politecnica delle Marche (Italy)
Gloria Polinesi - University of Ancona (Italy)
Abstract: The aim is to analyse the effect of COVID-19 on multidimensional poverty in the Italian provinces by measuring changes in household poverty levels before and during the pandemic outbreak. To capture the multidimensional nature of poverty, five dimensions are considered: economic well-being, health condition, education, neighbourhood quality and subjective well-being. The empirical application is based on micro-data from the aspects of daily life survey (ISTAT) for the period 2018-2021. Since data are representative only at the regional (NUTS2) level, estimates are provided at a finer geographical level (NUTS3) by applying small area estimation models to the elementary indicators that compose multidimensional poverty. A composite indicator is then constructed for each of the five dimensions by aggregating the elementary indicators in a non-compensatory way. Finally, an overall composite indicator of multidimensional poverty is obtained for each Italian province. The contribution is to enhance the knowledge of the spatial distribution of multidimensional poverty at a finer local level in Italy and to help policymakers address resources towards the areas where the phenomenon is strongly present. Preliminary empirical findings reveal that households in the Southern regions have suffered worse conditions in terms of multidimensional poverty over the years, although with significant differences across provinces belonging to the same region.
