Measuring multidimensional poverty in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil: looking beyond income

Abstract The multidimensional poverty index (MPI) was developed by the Oxford Poverty & Human Development Initiative (Ophi) in 2010. The MPI is established on indicators of health, education and standard of living. The concept of multidimensionality is anchored on the theory of poverty and human development elaborated by the indian economist Amartya Sen in the 1980s. The methodology used for the modeling of this study is based on Alkire and Foster - AF (2011) and analyzes the incidence and intensity of poverty. The purpose of this paper focuses on the application of the MPI in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil and uses the Household Sample Survey produced by João Pinheiro Foundation (FJP) in 2009, 2011 and 2013. The results indicate that the MPI is relativaly low, 0.0329 (2009), 0.0226 (2011) and 0.0155 (2013), indicating there is a tendency for decreasing along the years.