Measurement of monetary poverty in the Caribbean: an assessment of poverty statistics comparability

Francis Jones and Nyasha Skerrette

Studies and Perspectives – ECLAC Subregional Headquarters for The Caribbean from Naciones Unidas Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL)

Abstract: Monitoring progress towards SDG 1 (No Poverty) in the Caribbean has been hindered by a lack of internationally comparable data on monetary poverty. This is due, partly, to the relative infrequency of household surveys of living standards, but also to the fact that poverty estimates produced from existing surveys are generally not comparable across countries or across time. While Caribbean countries use the same 'cost of basic needs' approach and similar methods to measure poverty, inconsistencies in survey design and the precise methods used to define and update poverty lines, mean that national estimates cannot be relied upon to provide a coherent Caribbean-wide picture of trends in monetary poverty. This study provides a comparative analysis of the methods used to produce poverty estimates in the Caribbean, discusses the need for harmonised estimates, and includes some analysis of the challenges involved in analysing poverty across countries of different income levels. It closes with recommendations for improved harmonization of national estimates and the production and use of harmonized estimates by international organizations, which could be used to monitor trends and inform efforts to reduce poverty at subregional, regional and global levels.

Date: 2026-05-19
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ecr:col033:90039

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