ABSTRACT
This study has been about the question whether and how subjective information can be used for the identification of the poor. Usually, the poor are distinguished from the non-poor by means of income thresholds (or thresholds defined in another measure of the standard of living). There are a number of ways to determine such thresholds. (See e.g. Callan and Nolan, 1991; Van den Bosch, 1993.) This study has focused on those where respondents in sample surveys are asked about their views or feelings on the matter. The relevant survey questions can be of two kinds. One can inquire after people’s views on the income or consumption needs of families in general, or one can ask how they feel about or evaluate their own income situation. As will be seen, these two approaches involve rather different methodological issues.
