Interesting. According to the Armenian Government's Poverty Reduction
Strategy Paper, the Internationally recognized indicators for the measurement of poverty uses the measurements of below 1, 2 and 4 US Dollars for living.
According to the Armenian Government in 2005 13.8% of the Armenian population will live on less than $1 a day. 35.9% on less than $2 a day and get this, 68.3% on less than $4 a day. And that's assuming the Poverty Reduction Strategy meets its goals on time in the schedule that is due to finish in 2015. In 2003 76.6% of the population lived on less than $4 a day in Armenia which tallies with the Ministry of Health's calorie intake poverty line which is different from that used by the Ministry of Social Security. And of course, it explains why the National Statistics Office reports that 70% of the population is living on a staple diet of macaroni, potatoes and bread.
http://www.gov.am/en/gov/iprsp/prsp/3.1.html
The figures the Government quotes for half the population living below the poverty line are internal to Armenia and relative. ie. it is a national poverty line rather than the international indicators mentioned above.
What's more interesting about this is that it explains why Georgia is operating three poverty line levels and has been doing so for some time. Yet, even so -- and despite the propaganda that seems to be lapped up in the Diaspora press about economic growth in Armenia and better social conditions than in Azerbaijan and Georgia -- Reuters (as quoted by Asbarez) today indicates that the 50% of the population in poverty in Georgia is using the under $4 a day mark, meaning they are in fact in better shape than us.
Well, anyway, it probably doesn't matter much. All three South Caucasian Republics are pretty much the same. In some areas, one might be better than the other (but not by much) but worse in another area. The main issue is whether the PRSP and the fight against corruption works and I hope that we can ensure it works here. Remaining silent about the situation and pretending we're in better shape (when we're about the same -- plus AND minus) isn't going to help anyone.
Think it's about time we woke up a little and started to take poverty seriously in this country even if it's hard to see past the neon-lit playground the clans and government officials have created for themselves in central Yerevan. One day perhaps, we can truly pat ourselves on the back for creating a socially just society. Today, however, isn't it.
For your interest the Armenian Government Poverty Reduction Strategy
Paper is online at: http://www.gov.am/en/gov/iprsp/
Strategy Paper, the Internationally recognized indicators for the measurement of poverty uses the measurements of below 1, 2 and 4 US Dollars for living.
According to the Armenian Government in 2005 13.8% of the Armenian population will live on less than $1 a day. 35.9% on less than $2 a day and get this, 68.3% on less than $4 a day. And that's assuming the Poverty Reduction Strategy meets its goals on time in the schedule that is due to finish in 2015. In 2003 76.6% of the population lived on less than $4 a day in Armenia which tallies with the Ministry of Health's calorie intake poverty line which is different from that used by the Ministry of Social Security. And of course, it explains why the National Statistics Office reports that 70% of the population is living on a staple diet of macaroni, potatoes and bread.
http://www.gov.am/en/gov/iprsp/prsp/3.1.html
The figures the Government quotes for half the population living below the poverty line are internal to Armenia and relative. ie. it is a national poverty line rather than the international indicators mentioned above.
What's more interesting about this is that it explains why Georgia is operating three poverty line levels and has been doing so for some time. Yet, even so -- and despite the propaganda that seems to be lapped up in the Diaspora press about economic growth in Armenia and better social conditions than in Azerbaijan and Georgia -- Reuters (as quoted by Asbarez) today indicates that the 50% of the population in poverty in Georgia is using the under $4 a day mark, meaning they are in fact in better shape than us.
Well, anyway, it probably doesn't matter much. All three South Caucasian Republics are pretty much the same. In some areas, one might be better than the other (but not by much) but worse in another area. The main issue is whether the PRSP and the fight against corruption works and I hope that we can ensure it works here. Remaining silent about the situation and pretending we're in better shape (when we're about the same -- plus AND minus) isn't going to help anyone.
Think it's about time we woke up a little and started to take poverty seriously in this country even if it's hard to see past the neon-lit playground the clans and government officials have created for themselves in central Yerevan. One day perhaps, we can truly pat ourselves on the back for creating a socially just society. Today, however, isn't it.
For your interest the Armenian Government Poverty Reduction Strategy
Paper is online at: http://www.gov.am/en/gov/iprsp/
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