Abstract |
In this paper, the authors apply a recently developed small-area estimation technique to derive detailed geographic estimates of consumption-based poverty and inequality in Madagascar by combining detailed information from the 1993 household survey with the 1993 population census. In addition to generating Faritany (province) level welfare estimates that are comparable to, but more precise than, the previous survey-based estimates, the authors also provide estimates for 111 Fivondronas (districts) and 1,248 Firaisanas (communes). Some key findings are as follows: (a) despite the high overall level of poverty in Madagascar, there is considerable spatial heterogeneity in poverty levels across administrative units within provinces; (b) this heterogeneity is pronounced at the Fivondrona level but less so at the Firaisana level, and is particularly striking in urban areas; (c) while on average most of the inequality in Madagascar is attributable to inequality within communes, the vast majority of the communes—especially those in rural areas—have low rates of inequality vis-à- vis the national average. |