An Assessment of the Level, Trend, and Distribution of Multidimensional Poverty in Iran

An accurate, and time-based poverty measurement is crucial in future policymaking as well as assessing the impact of welfare policies implemented on poverty. This study has used Multidimensional Poverty Index to calculate the various dimensions of poverty as well as the trend of changes in this index for the whole country and to compare its trend from 2006 to 2018 in all provinces of Iran in both urban and rural areas. These insights provide more accurate images of the location and dimensions of poverty, and they help to illuminate the path for future research on the causes of poverty, and also to design and target the supportive policies more effectively. The results of this paper show that multidimensional poverty in rural and suburban areas is higher than the urban areas, yet it shows slightly decreasing poverty trend. The policy message of this study necessitates a major focus on poverty alleviation in rural and suburban areas.