Click the star to add/remove an item to/from your individual schedule.
You need to be logged in to avail of this functionality,
and to see the links to virtual rooms.
Log in
- Convenors:
-
Raffaele Ciula
Nico Brando (University of Liverpool)
Arunima Mukherjee (University of Oslo)
Send message to Convenors
- Format:
- Thematic Panel
- Theme:
- Equity and social inclusion
Short Abstract:
Childhood poverty in South and East Asia has vast numbers of deprived children. The complex interplay of these deprivations shapes their life outcomes. This panel explores the multifaceted nature of childhood poverty and different policy mechanisms to tackling it. It also focuses on how specific childhood vulnerabilities and dependencies affect the methodologies of assessing childhood poverty.
Long Abstract:
Childhood poverty in South and East Asia remains a significant developmental challenge, with vast numbers of children experiencing deprivation across multiple dimensions. The complex interplay of these deprivations shapes their life outcomes and amplifies their vulnerability to crises. This panel explores the multifaceted nature of childhood poverty, different policy mechanisms to tackling it, while focusing on the particularities of the South and East Asian context. It also focuses on how the specific vulnerabilities and dependencies of childhood might affect the methodologies of assessing childhood poverty.
The South and East Asia regions are home to nearly half of the world's multidimensionally poor children, with estimates reaching over 270 million. These children experience deprivations in health, nutrition, education, sanitation, information access, and living standards. This multidimensional deprivation is particularly concerning as it hinders children's physical, cognitive, and social development, perpetuating the cycle of poverty across generations. Understanding both the present, future and intergenerational impact of child poverty on children themselves and their communities is a strategic priority to providing novel avenues of human development and social policy. Not only does children, as a social group, require a particular set of indicators that better reflect their needs, but, as some of the panellists will explore, we need mechanisms to evaluate age-specific manifestations of multidimensional poverty in order to create better interventions for issues of particular urgency. Despite the variety of indexes and measurements used to understand child poverty and multidimensional poverty, the contributions to this panel explore the limitations of current methodologies and provide guidance to which mechanisms are more sensitive to the variabilities of childhood.
This panel brings together three studies of multidimensional poverty (MDP) during childhood in South and East Asia (India and Japan), aiming to shed light on similarities and differences in the sources and effects of inequality and disadvantage among these regions. It also focuses on comparative policy analyses to assess best practices. The panel aims to analyse the multidimensional nature of childhood poverty within the regions. Specifically, it explores various deprivations children experience and how they interact, which can lead to cumulative disadvantage, both intra-personally and intergenerationally.
1. The panel also examines the impact of differing policy mechanisms on child inequality and poverty by comparing different policies in order to understand best practices regarding poverty and inequality reduction. The main goal is to understand the impact policies might have on human capabilities, development, rights and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
2. Further, this panel attempts to unveil specific challenges faced by disadvantage of particular age-groups. Particularly, it focuses on how assessment, evaluation and intervention ought to account for the specificities of different age groups.
3. Finally, the panel encourages discussion among the HDCA Children and Youth Thematic Group and the regional networks of South and East Asia, in order to find common research themes and potential collaborations.
The panel will be comprised of three presentations, one engaging with MDP during childhood in India, one in Japan, and a final exploring the issue from a larger regional perspective. Dutta’s contribution engages with multidimensional poverty during childhood in India broadly. Looking at the progress and barriers to tackling poverty through different indexes, and how they speak to SDGs. It will provide an insightful analysis of the need for age-specific indexes and interventions for proper evaluation and implementation. Specifically, this research examines child poverty using data from the National Family and Health Survey (NFHS-4 & NFHS-5). Applying the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) and the Multidimensional Overlapping Deprivation Approach (MODA), the analysis adopts a life-cycle perspective, revealing distinct challenges for each age group. Findings indicate higher levels of multidimensional deprivation among children aged 0-5 compared to 6-17 years, emphasizing the need for age-specific interventions.
Chawla’s contribution analyses MDP in the South Asian context. Specifically, it focuses on the ways MDP manifests in urban spaces, with particular sensitivity to how both vertical and horizontal inequalities play a role in affecting the breadth of MDP during childhood. The paper adopts a method of a ‘scoping review,’ wherein key literature and existing evidence is discussed and debated. This enables creating information for further research agendas, policy as well as planning. The preliminary results indicate minimal literature on Child MPI and horizontal inequalities in cities, and further analysis allows for a better commentary on the same.
Finally, Ciula’s contribution inspects the effects of policy change in MDP and inequalities during childhood in Japan. The comparative policy analysis attempts to shed light on how different mechanisms aiming at reducing inequalities and poverty might fare better or worse in protecting fundamental human capabilities and rights. This analysis uses a quasi-experimental analysis which applies propensity score matching and difference-in-difference technique. The preliminary findings show some positive effect on child poverty and inequalities.
Hence, the results of this thematic panel suggest that multidimensional poverty is age-specific. Also, policies focused on age of children and on universal interventions are needed to tackle multidimensional poverty. Finally, more analyses on child multidimensional poverty and on child horizontal inequalities should be conducted to show the situation of child deprivation.
Accepted papers:
Paper short abstract:
Child poverty in India affects nearly one-fourth of children, highlighting age-specific vulnerabilities. This study employs NFHS data, utilizing the MODA and a well-being index to comprehend the interlinkages among various deprivations, well-being statuses and challenges towards SDG fulfilment
Paper long abstract:
Child poverty, particularly acute in developing nations like India, has been worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, with approximately one-fourth of Indian children under 18 living in extreme poverty. This study examines the multidimensional aspects of child poverty in India, focusing on the vulnerabilities of children in the age group of 0 to 17 years
The consequences of child poverty are far-reaching, leading to violations of child rights such as child labor and early marriages, especially prevalent in rural areas, urban slums, and marginalized communities. Neglecting this segment of society has detrimental effects on communities, societies, and economies, necessitating a dedicated examination of children's deprivations.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a comprehensive framework for addressing poverty, with specific emphasis on child poverty reduction (SDG 1.2) and establishing social protection systems (SDG 1.3). Additionally, other SDGs related to nutrition, healthcare, education, violence prevention, access to clean water and sanitation, energy access, and fostering peaceful, just, and strong institutions collectively form the framework for combating multidimensional child poverty.
Aligned with the SDGs, this study utilizes data from the National Family and Health Survey (NFHS-4 & NFHS-5) to analyze child poverty in India. Employing the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) and the Multidimensional Overlapping Deprivation Approach (MODA), the study adopts a life-cycle perspective, revealing unique challenges for each age group. Further, study has calculated child well being index to understand the state of wellbeing of children across Indian states.
Despite progress in areas like housing, indoor air quality, and sanitation, challenges persist in ensuring adequate nutrition, healthcare, and access to clean water for children. The study underscores the urgent need for safe water sources, toilet facilities and enhanced efforts in nutrition and healthcare provision. While strides have been made in child protection, targeted interventions are needed to address persistent challenges.
The research evaluates progress across Indian states and districts, assessing multidimensional poverty reduction among children in rural and urban settings and across various social strata. By contributing to policy recommendations aligned with the SDGs, the study aims to eradicate child poverty and improve the well-being of India's children. Focusing on age-specific vulnerabilities, it seeks to guide interventions that promote comprehensive development, aligning with the broader goals of sustainable development.
Paper short abstract:
Since the year 2009, after a period of neo-liberal turn, a new child allowance policy was enacted in Japan. It aimed to make the Japanese policy system more effective in reducing deprivations. My goal is to analyse the impact of this policy on child poverty using a quasi-experimental analysis.
Paper long abstract:
Since the year 2009, after a period of neo-liberal turn in Japan, a set of more comprehensive and universal social policies were enacted by the Democratic Party of Japan. These policies were established to increase low socio-economic inclusion and to tackle poverty, which were exacerbated by policy changes of the Koizumi Government. These policies also aimed at making the Japanese social security system and the public employment system more effective in reducing and preventing deprivations. My goal is to analyse the impact of the modification of the child allowance which occurred in 2010, during the Democratic Party of Japan government period, on child life dimensions. This policy modification is interesting as it broadened both the number of beneficiary families and the amount of the benefits delivered to families. In fact, compared to the previous child allowance, this policy had a universal structure and it transferred 13,000 yen to households each month. Specifically, my aim is to analyse the impact of child allowance on different aspects of child life dimensions, such as gross family income, health and an index of multidimensional poverty. I also attempt to inspect the effect of this policy on child inequalities. This analysis is interesting as it can indicate counteracting actions of this amended policy on two big issues in Japan, mounting inequalities and increasing child poverty. As for my research plan, first I inspect the effect of the new child allowance on single child dimensions and on an index of multidimensional poverty. Afterwards, I analyse the impact of this policy on single child inequalities and on an index of child multidimensional inequality. This empirical analysis uses the Luxembourg Income study database. Moreover, it employs a quasi-experimental analysis that applies a propensity score methodology and a difference-in-difference technique. Finally, I include a robustness analysis to inspect whether the outcome of my empirical investigation suggests some causal impact. Further, I use the year 2008 as baseline period and the year 2010 as impact estimation period. As for variable selection, I use the Burchardt-Vizard framework, which focuses on dimensions related to human rights. Regarding the expected outcomes: this empirical analysis should have positive results on both child non-economic and economic freedoms as well as on the related inequalities over time. In fact, the universal structure of this policy and the level of transfers to recipient families should generate a widespread impact on social exclusion and capabilities.
Paper short abstract:
With inequalities increasing globally and share of poor increasing in urban areas, there is a need to look at the Child MPI measurement. The paper analyzes the child MPI methodology, scope measurement of horizontal inequalities; comment on Child MPI and horizontal inequalities in cities.
Paper long abstract:
The evolution of poverty has allowed a thought and execution movement from a uni-dimensional concept to multidimensional poverty, encompassing health, education, and standard of living. Child MPI includes the disaggregation of measures, targeted for the individuals in the age group (0-17) and include the referred target group as the unit of analysis. However, MPI has a focus on households, and only refers to certain ‘child-relevant’ indicators.
The MPI methodology focuses on two layers of cut-off and censoring, wherein the first layer includes giving a status to all indicators under consideration as “Deprived” or “Non-deprived,” and the second layer is censoring i.e. a poverty cut-off. However, ideally, the measurement of poverty must include the “three I’s of poverty - incidence, intensity, and inequality.” The Child MPI addresses the first two, but is known to be insensitive to inequality among the poor. There is evidence that the state of child deprivation is linked with inequality for the nation and increased urban income is not linked to reduced child poverty. This necessitates methodological strengthening for measurement of inequalities, both vertical and horizontal.
MPI framework already includes a rural-urban division, however, the horizontal inequalities (social groups, gender, etc.) have not been addressed. Cities and urban spaces are more relevant for the concerns of poverty and inequality because of the recent evidence on the increasing share of poor in the urban areas as migrants gravitate towards cities. There is also evidence on increasing inequalities in cities, globally, indicating need for a clearer methodology for Child MPI and horizontal inequalities that will feed back into informed urban planning.
Basis the research evidence that exists, the paper aims to understand 1) the existing frameworks for Child MPI globally, critically analyze the methodology, argue the scope and relevance of measuring horizontal inequalities alongside Child MPI; 2) analyze and comment on Child MPI and horizontal inequalities that exist in cities, and how measurement of the two can enable urban planning. This panel/paper aims to address the methodology of multidimensional poverty for children, specifically in cities, and how the links poverty and horizontal inequality can be addressed.
The paper will adopt a method of a ‘scoping review’ which will enable creating information for further research agendas, policy as well as planning. The preliminary results indicate minimal literature on Child MPI and horizontal inequalities in cities, and further analysis will allow for a better commentary on the same.