Determinants and Spatial Distribution of Multidimensional Poverty in Cameroon

Abstract

The aim of this study is to target poverty following a multidimensional approach. The Multiple Correspondence Analysis, the Pα class of poverty measures and the logistic regression permitted us to construct a Composite Welfare Index, to draw up multidimensional poverty profiles and to identify its determinants. The results show that, with regard to the spatial distribution, Cameroon’s regions can be divided into three: an area of extreme multi-poverty, an area of non-multi-poverty, and an area in between. With regard to socio-economic characteristics, the residential area variable was found to be an absolute determinant. Monetary poverty is obviously considerable in this distribution, and so are existence poverty, infrastructural poverty and human poverty. Policies aimed at fighting poverty must target the areas of extreme multi-poverty and rural areas on the basis of shortages of capabilities in all these dimensions.