Measuring Destitution: Integrating qualitative and quantitative approaches in the analysis of survey data

This working paper discusses the analytical methods and statistical procedures used to select and process data from the household questionnaire survey, in order to estimate the scale of destitution among the population of rural Wollo in northern Ethiopia. It focuses on the methodological options and choices made in constructing an index to distinguish 'destitute' from 'non-destitute' households. Although primarily a quantitative analysis, a great deal of qualitative information is included, mostly taken from study fieldwork. The paper draws out points of general interest to other researchers.