abstract: 'This paper examines the implications that the conceptualization and

  measurement of poverty have for policies that aim to improve the health

  of Canadians. in recent years, poverty has been identified as an issue

  of policy importance within the health sector in Canada. Policy makers

  are recognizing that efforts to improve the health of Canadians are

  related to the development and implementation of policies that decrease

  the proportion of people who live in poverty. At the same time, the

  Statistics Canada Low-income Cut-Offs (LICOs), which are the most

  commonly used tool for measuring poverty in Canada, are being called

  into question. One of the most frequently cited criticisms of the LICOs

  is that they are too high, and as such do not measure poverty. Critics

  who argue that the LICOs are too high disagree with the relative

  conceptualization of poverty which underlies the LICOs. In this paper,

  we discuss the LICOs, their underlying assumption that poverty is

  relative in nature, and the criticism that the LICOs are too high, in

  addition, we discuss the Sarlo/Fraser Institute poverty lines, which are

  based on the assumption that poverty is absolute in nature. The manner

  in which poverty is conceptualized and measured has implications for the

  types, characteristics and ultimately the success of policies that are

  developed to reduce poverty and its effect on health. We argue that the

  success of efforts to enhance the health of Canadians with a reduction

  in poverty depends on a commitment by policy makers to a relative

  conceptualization and measurement of poverty. We further contend that

  policy makers in the health sector cannot independently reduce poverty

  and its detrimental effects on health. The complex nature of poverty

  indicates the need for policy makers in the health sector to work

  collaboratively with their counterparts from a broad range of government

  and non-government sectors to develop an innovative network of social

  assistance, economic and employment policies that effectively reduce the

  proportion of Canadians who experience material and social deprivation.'
affiliation: 'Williamson, DL (Corresponding Author), Univ Alberta, Dept Human Ecol,
  302 Human Ecol Bldg, Edmonton, AB T6G 2N1, Canada.

  Univ Alberta, Dept Human Ecol, Edmonton, AB T6G 2N1, Canada.

  Univ Alberta, Fac Nursing, Edmonton, AB T6G 2N1, Canada.'
author: Williamson, DL and Reutter, L
author_list:
- family: Williamson
  given: DL
- family: Reutter
  given: L
da: '2023-09-28'
doi: 10.1093/heapro/14.4.355
files: []
issn: 0957-4824
journal: HEALTH PROMOTION INTERNATIONAL
keywords: 'Canada; healthy public policy; poverty and health; poverty definitions

  and measures'
keywords-plus: SOCIOECONOMIC-STATUS; UNITED-STATES; MORTALITY; INCOME; INEQUALITY
language: English
month: DEC
note: '1st Annual Conference of the Parkland Institute, EDMONTON, CANADA, NOV

  06-08, 1997'
number: '4'
number-of-cited-references: '58'
pages: 355-364
papis_id: eab98524bf6ff7074d51ee76fbe947ac
ref: Williamson1999definingmeasuring
times-cited: '18'
title: 'Defining and measuring poverty: implications for the health of Canadians'
type: article
unique-id: WOS:000084155900009
usage-count-last-180-days: '1'
usage-count-since-2013: '21'
volume: '14'
web-of-science-categories: Health Policy \& Services; Public, Environmental \& Occupational
  Health
year: '1999'