Poverty rankings shift with normative weight given to the poorest

Evidence

If one is interested in the total amount of poverty in a country, the relative preference given to the very poor can, not surprisingly, radically change the total amount within a country and the relative rankings of countries. Not only does one have to make a normative choice about how to give preference to the poor, but it will then be reflected in descriptions of the amount of poverty in a given country, region, or world. — Gary Goertz, Social Science Concepts and Measurement, 681

Categorization

• SEED: Angle: ‘The number you chose decided the ranking’ — how an invisible measurement choice about the very poor reshuffles the entire league table of nations.