Crawford School of Public Policy

Crawford School’s Policy Forum has launched a new special section taking a close look at poverty, what it means for different people, and what should be done about it.

Professor Sharon Bessell, ANU lead of the Individual Deprivation Measure (IDM) Program, is guest editing the section. Launched in 2016, the IDM is the world’s first gender-sensitive, multidimensional poverty measure.

“Sustainable Development Goal 1 calls for an end to poverty in all its forms everywhere. Over the past decade, the number of people living in extreme poverty has been reduced considerably, but it remains one of the world’s greatest challenges. What’s more, there is no consensus on what should be done,” Professor Bessell said.

The In Focus: Poverty section captures expert insights and opinions in form of op-eds, podcasts and videos. It kicked off on Thursday with a piece by Professor Bessell, revealing that in order to properly address poverty, we need to move beyond defining it merely through low household income.

Guest Editor Professor Bessell added that Policy Forum’s new section addresses crucial questions to inform better policy-making on poverty:

“How do we define poverty? Who is poor? Why? What should be done?

“As part of our commitment to informing robust, scholarly and policy-relevant debate, Policy Forum has launched this special section: Poverty In Focus. We hope you find the contents both illuminating and thought-provoking, and invite you to join the conversation.”