Poverty in Rural Bangladesh : A Comparative Study of Poverty Rates and Measuring Methods

Abstract

To increase the attention paid to the poor in development policy and action, it is important to address conditions leading to poverty in rural areas. Over 80 percent of Bangladesh's population lives in rural areas, where poverty is a very common problem. The present study examines the poverty conditions in rural Bangladesh from 1974 to 1999. The study shows that the rate of poverty is clearly higher in rural areas than in urban areas, and also that poverty lines vary from region to region. The present study also addresses the various definitions and metrics of poverty. Without a definition of poverty and appropriate measure, it is difficult to determine the intensity of efforts needed to alleviate poverty.