A1607
Title: Food poverty and transportation poverty at local level in Italy
Authors: Stefano Marchetti - Dipartimento di Economia e Management, Universita di Pisa (Italy) [presenting]
Abstract: Food poverty and transport poverty are investigated as two dimensions of poverty, each conceptualized from multiple perspectives. Food poverty is defined as the inability of a Household to afford a basket of food items consistent with a healthy and sustainable diet. Transport poverty is defined according to the 10\% threshold criterion, whereby a Household is considered to be in transport poverty if its expenditure on transport exceeds 10\% of total expenditure. The analysis is conducted at the local level (provinces, NUTS 3) in Italy, where sample sizes are typically limited. Small area estimation methods are employed to obtain reliable estimates at the desired level of disaggregation. The analysis combines data from the 2022 Household Budget Survey, used to compute direct estimates, with administrative data from the Tax Agency Register, which are incorporated as auxiliary variables in the small area models. The results reveal substantial territorial heterogeneity across Italy for both dimensions of poverty. These findings differ from conventional indicators of absolute and relative monetary poverty, which generally highlight a pronounced North-South divide. By focusing on specific aspects of poverty and social exclusion at the local level, the analysis highlights challenges faced by households even in relatively affluent areas of the country.
