The Impact of Socioeconomic and Demographic Variables On Poverty: A Village Study Imran Sharif Chaudhry, Shahnawaz Malik and Abo Ul Hassan

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The Impact of Socioeconomic and Demographic Variables

on Poverty: A Village Study


Imran Sharif Chaudhry*, Shahnawaz Malik** and Abo ul Hassan***
Abstract
Poverty is a complex phenomenon based on a network of
interlocking economic, social, political, and demographic factors. An
understanding of the extent, nature, and determinants of rural poverty is a
precondition for effective public policy to reduce poverty in rural Pakistan.
The present study attempts to analyze the impact of socioeconomic and
demographic characteristics of households on poverty, using primary data
collected in the village of Betti Nala in Tehsil Jatoi, district Muzaffargarh
in southern Punjab. We have used two distinct approaches: (i) a poverty
profile, and (ii) an econometric approach in our empirical analysis. The
results show that household size, dependency on household, participation,
landholdings, and number of livestock have a significant impact on poverty
incidence. Our final conclusion is that efforts should be made to improve
socioeconomic factors in general and demographic factors in particular to
alleviate rural poverty in remote areas of Pakistan, while land should be
allotted to landless households.
JEL Classification: A13, C10, J19.
Keywords: Poverty, households, Punjab, Pakistan.
I. Introduction
Most societies have at some time in their development process seen
a large number of people living in conditions of poverty, unable to afford
the minimum essentials for a decent existence. Poverty, in this sense, has
long been a historical fact and continues to be an unfortunate feature of life
today. Nevertheless, poverty is not a new topic in development economics.
Its alleviation has mostly been associated with high economic growth rates.
*, **,

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