ABSTRACT
Consensual methods aim at identifying minimum standards by reference to people’s views about the incomes or the possessions and activities of families in the community in general. The consensual method that has been used most often is to ask respondents in sample surveys how much income a family of a give type needs in order to reach a particular level of living. Probably the most well known question of this kind is the so-called ‘get-along’ question: “What is the smallest amount of money a family of four needs each week to get along in this community?” Another method is to ask respondents to indicate which items on a list of amenities and activities they regard as necessities for all households (this is the subject of the next chapter).
