• Talk 1: Relative deprivation theory (Professor David Gordon)
• Talk 2: Human rights and child poverty: past, present and future of child poverty measurement (Enrique Delamonica)
• Talk 3: Poverty as capability deprivation (Dr Rod Hick)

View a YouTube video of the talks (for timings of specific talks and translations see the YouTube video description).

Talk 1: Relative Deprivation Theory

Professor David Gordon (University of Bristol, UK)

One of the seminal contributions that Professor Peter Townsend made to science was the development of relative deprivation theory, which marked a paradigm shift in both our understanding of poverty and the practice of poverty measurement methodology. Over the past fifty years, researchers have built upon Townsend’s theory and insights and made significant advances in the measurement and understanding of poverty.

This session will discuss whether poverty can ever be measured scientifically or must always remain in the ‘eye of the beholder’. Is it possible to measure poverty in a consistent and comparable manner in low-, middle- and high-income countries or are different measures of poverty needed in ‘poor’ and ‘rich’ countries?

Course materials

Relative Deprivation Theory (David Gordon) (PDF, 1,625kB)

Teoría de la privación relativa (David Gordon) (PDF, 1,526kB)

Key readings and speaker biography

See pages 10-11 of Advanced Poverty Research Methods Online Course - Programme (PDF, 673kB)

Talk 2: Human rights and child poverty: past, present and future of child poverty measurement

Enrique Delamonica (UNICEF HQ, USA)

The session sets out why it is important for any study of child poverty, be it conducted in high, middle- or low-income country settings, to develop and use indicators suitable for reflecting the needs and rights of children. It will show how definitions of poverty have evolved to include the needs of children and how this has shaped the measurement of child poverty today. Examples will be presented from around the world, showing how the measurement of child poverty has changed and is improving as international agencies and national governments realize the importance of tackling child poverty.

Course materials

Child Poverty (Enrique Delamonica) (PDF, 840kB)

Pobreza Infantil (Enrique Delamonica) (PDF, 912kB)

Key readings and speaker biography

See pages 12-13 of Advanced Poverty Research Methods Online Course - Programme (PDF, 673kB)

 

Talk 3: Poverty as Capability Deprivation

Dr Rod Hick (University of Cardiff, UK)

This lecture seeks to provide an overview to the capability approach, which was initially developed by the economist and philosopher Amartya Sen.  The talk will be structured in five parts.  The first will explain the origins and motivation behind the capability approach; the second, its key concepts.  Third, while the capability approach can be applied in a variety of contexts, this section will consider the relevance of the approach for the purposes of poverty analysis specifically, before, fourthly, highlighting some empirical applications and theoretical and conceptual studies which have been inspired by the approach.  The concluding fifth section will offer some reflections on the possibilities and limitations of working with the approach. 

Course materials

Poverty as Capability Deprivation (Rod Hick) (PDF, 800kB)

La pobreza como privación de capacidad (Rod Hick) (PDF, 800kB)

Key readings and speaker biography

See pages 14-15 of Advanced Poverty Research Methods Online Course - Programme (PDF, 673kB)