At 08:28 09/06/2010 +0100, Ursula Huws wrote (in part):
>John Whittington writes:
>"Such a 'relative' official definition of poverty would certainly seem
>to be 'asking for trouble' - and clearly is of little/no use when looking
>across a range of countries."
>
>Interesting point. The EU policy statement commits member states to
>reducing 'the number of Europeans living below the national poverty
>lines' by 25%. The 'poverty line' is thus defined differently in
>different countries.
Quite apart from the 'across-countries' problem, this policy (combined with
the definition of 'poverty line') clearly also carries a further
mathematical problem ...
If, in seeking to achieve that policy goal, some people are (one imagine
pretty inevitably) moved from below to above the median, it is very
probable that the median would increase (depending on how many 'ties' there
are around the median) - which would, of course, mean that the target
became a moving one - perhaps even moving to the extent that the policy
target could not be attained until everyone had roughly the same income
(and where have I seen that political aim voiced before?!) !
As you say, the input of some very competent statistical expertise is going
to be needed if such policies are to be pursued!
Kind Regards,
John
----------------------------------------------------------------
Dr John Whittington, Voice: +44 (0) 1296 730225
Mediscience Services Fax: +44 (0) 1296 738893
Twyford Manor, Twyford, E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Buckingham MK18 4EL, UK
----------------------------------------------------------------
******************************************************
Please note that if you press the 'Reply' button your
message will go only to the sender of this message.
If you want to reply to the whole list, use your mailer's
'Reply-to-All' button to send your message automatically
to [log in to unmask]
Disclaimer: The messages sent to this list are the views of the sender and cannot be assumed to be representative of the range of views held by subscribers to the Radical Statistics Group. To find out more about Radical Statistics and its aims and activities and read current and past issues of our newsletter you are invited to visit our web site www.radstats.org.uk.
*******************************************************
|