SMALL AREA ESTIMATION OF POVERTY IN RURAL BANGLADESH

Small Area Estimation of Poverty

Abstract

Poverty is a complex phenomenon and most of the developing countries are struggling to overcome the problem. Small area estimation offers help to allocate resources efficiently to address poverty at lower administrative level. This study used data from Census 2011 and Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES)-2010. Using ELL and M-Quantile methods, this study identified Rangpur division as the poorest one where Kurigram is the poorest district. Finally, considering both upper and lower poverty lines this study identified the poverty estimates at upazila level of Rangpur division using ELL and M-Quantile methods. The analyses found that 32% of the households were absolute poor and 19% were extremely poor in rural Bangladesh. Among the upazilas under Rangpur division Rajarhat, Ulipur, Char Rajibpur, Phulbari, Chilmari, Kurigram Sadar, Nageshwari, and Fulchhari Upazilas have been identified as the poorest upazilas.