2023-09-28 14:46:10 +00:00
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abstract: 'This paper examines the implications that the conceptualization and
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measurement of poverty have for policies that aim to improve the health
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of Canadians. in recent years, poverty has been identified as an issue
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of policy importance within the health sector in Canada. Policy makers
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are recognizing that efforts to improve the health of Canadians are
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related to the development and implementation of policies that decrease
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the proportion of people who live in poverty. At the same time, the
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Statistics Canada Low-income Cut-Offs (LICOs), which are the most
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commonly used tool for measuring poverty in Canada, are being called
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into question. One of the most frequently cited criticisms of the LICOs
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is that they are too high, and as such do not measure poverty. Critics
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who argue that the LICOs are too high disagree with the relative
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conceptualization of poverty which underlies the LICOs. In this paper,
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we discuss the LICOs, their underlying assumption that poverty is
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relative in nature, and the criticism that the LICOs are too high, in
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addition, we discuss the Sarlo/Fraser Institute poverty lines, which are
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based on the assumption that poverty is absolute in nature. The manner
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in which poverty is conceptualized and measured has implications for the
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types, characteristics and ultimately the success of policies that are
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developed to reduce poverty and its effect on health. We argue that the
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success of efforts to enhance the health of Canadians with a reduction
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in poverty depends on a commitment by policy makers to a relative
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conceptualization and measurement of poverty. We further contend that
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policy makers in the health sector cannot independently reduce poverty
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and its detrimental effects on health. The complex nature of poverty
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indicates the need for policy makers in the health sector to work
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collaboratively with their counterparts from a broad range of government
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and non-government sectors to develop an innovative network of social
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assistance, economic and employment policies that effectively reduce the
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proportion of Canadians who experience material and social deprivation.'
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affiliation: 'Williamson, DL (Corresponding Author), Univ Alberta, Dept Human Ecol,
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302 Human Ecol Bldg, Edmonton, AB T6G 2N1, Canada.
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Univ Alberta, Dept Human Ecol, Edmonton, AB T6G 2N1, Canada.
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Univ Alberta, Fac Nursing, Edmonton, AB T6G 2N1, Canada.'
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author: Williamson, DL and Reutter, L
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author_list:
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- family: Williamson
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given: DL
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- family: Reutter
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given: L
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da: '2023-09-28'
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doi: 10.1093/heapro/14.4.355
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files: []
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issn: 0957-4824
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journal: HEALTH PROMOTION INTERNATIONAL
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keywords: 'Canada; healthy public policy; poverty and health; poverty definitions
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and measures'
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keywords-plus: SOCIOECONOMIC-STATUS; UNITED-STATES; MORTALITY; INCOME; INEQUALITY
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language: English
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month: DEC
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note: '1st Annual Conference of the Parkland Institute, EDMONTON, CANADA, NOV
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06-08, 1997'
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number: '4'
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number-of-cited-references: '58'
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pages: 355-364
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papis_id: eab98524bf6ff7074d51ee76fbe947ac
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ref: Williamson1999definingmeasuring
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times-cited: '18'
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title: 'Defining and measuring poverty: implications for the health of Canadians'
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2023-10-01 08:15:07 +00:00
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type: article
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2023-09-28 14:46:10 +00:00
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unique-id: WOS:000084155900009
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usage-count-last-180-days: '1'
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usage-count-since-2013: '21'
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volume: '14'
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web-of-science-categories: Health Policy \& Services; Public, Environmental \& Occupational
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Health
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year: '1999'
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