Measurement and Spatial Localisation of Subjective Poverty in Spain

Abstract

Since “being poor” is not the same as “feeling poor”, the objective of this paper is to provide a subjective measurement of poverty along the lines laid down by Kapteyn and Deeleck, as well as to obtain both subjective and objective indicators calculated for different household sizes, and according to population density. The data were taken from the Living Conditions Survey (LCS) in Spain for the years 2008, 2012 and 2016. It was concluded that households that feel poor are more numerous than those that are poor, due to the overestimation of Kapteyn’s and Deeleck's subjective rates. Similar subjective poverty thresholds were obtained for the most frequent household sizes. Households were and felt less poor in the most densely populated geographical areas.