Multidimensional and fuzzy poverty at regional level in Iran

In the present paper we propose a multidimensional and fuzzy set approach for measuring poverty at province level in Iran. We go beyond the conventional study of poverty based simply on the poor/non-poor dichotomy defined in relation to some poverty line chosen on the basis of income or total expenditure only. On the contrary, multidimensional poverty is treated as matters of degree determined in terms of the relative position of individuals in Iran, i.e. in the distribution of some aspects of their living conditions. The state of deprivation is thus seen in the form of ‘fuzzy sets’ to which all members of the population belong but to varying degrees. The methodology is the applied to HBS survey in Iran, collected from March 2016 to March 2017 (1395 Solar Hijri year in Iran).