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Determinants of Poverty Status in Taiwan: A Multilevel Approach

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  • Ke-Mei Chen
  • Te-Mu Wang

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the determinants of poverty in Taiwan, including family-level and regional-level factors. In contrast to previous studies, which have overlooked the interrelationships between individuals, families, and social structures because of methodological limitations, we applied hierarchical generalized linear models to a hierarchical structure. We used multiple data sources collected by the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting, and Statistics in the Taiwanese Executive Yuan, including the 2006 Survey of Family Income and Expenditure, the 2006 National Statistics, and the 2006 Manpower Utilization Survey. We examined 13,640 households from 23 cities and counties (regions). Our results indicated that poverty risks vary by region. Among the family-level factors studied, education, socioeconomic status, age, family type, dependency ratio, marital status, and number of earners are connected to poverty status. Significant relationships were also observed between poverty and structural characteristics, such as economic inequality, economic growth, structural transition, and labor market characteristics. We also attempted to detect cross-level interactions between family-level and regional-level factors. Surprisingly, none of the cross-level interactions were statistically significant. This article presents the unexpected results and research limitations. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2015

Suggested Citation

  • Ke-Mei Chen & Te-Mu Wang, 2015. "Determinants of Poverty Status in Taiwan: A Multilevel Approach," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 123(2), pages 371-389, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:123:y:2015:i:2:p:371-389
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-014-0741-4
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    7. Muhammad Shahid Hassan & Samra Bukhari & Noman Arshed, 2020. "Competitiveness, governance and globalization: What matters for poverty alleviation?," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(4), pages 3491-3518, April.
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    10. Chenhong Peng & Lue Fang & Julia Shu-Huah Wang & Yik Wa Law & Yi Zhang & Paul S. F. Yip, 2019. "Determinants of Poverty and Their Variation Across the Poverty Spectrum: Evidence from Hong Kong, a High-Income Society with a High Poverty Level," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 144(1), pages 219-250, July.
    11. Walelign, Solomon Zena & Charlery, Lindy & Smith-Hall, Carsten & Chhetri, Bir Bahadur Khanal & Larsen, Helle Overgaard, 2016. "Environmental income improves household-level poverty assessments and dynamics," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 23-35.
    12. Jorge Garza-Rodriguez & Gustavo A. Ayala-Diaz & Gerardo G. Coronado-Saucedo & Eugenio G. Garza-Garza & Oscar Ovando-Martinez, 2021. "Determinants of Poverty in Mexico: A Quantile Regression Analysis," Economies, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-24, April.
    13. Frank Adusah‐Poku & Kwame Adjei‐Mantey & Paul A. Kwakwa, 2021. "Are energy‐poor households also poor? Evidence from Ghana," Poverty & Public Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 13(1), pages 32-58, March.
    14. Salem , Ali Asghar & Bayat , Neda, 2018. "Factors Influencing Poverty in Iran Using a Multilevel Approach," Journal of Money and Economy, Monetary and Banking Research Institute, Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran, vol. 13(1), pages 81-106, January.

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