Abstract |
This article presents the first measurement of multidimensional child poverty at the regional level in East Asia and the Pacific and is based on child poverty studies in seven countries in the region: Cambodia, Lao PDR, Mongolia, Philippines, Thailand, Vanuatu and Viet Nam. It examines the prevalence of child poverty, as per the Bristol deprivation approach, in the seven countries, as well as the extent of various types of disparities within these countries. A composite measure, the Child Poverty Index, is also applied. Findings reveal that widespread and severe deprivation is being faced by children in one subset of countries (Cambodia, Lao PDR and Mongolia), while the other subset of countries (Philippines, Thailand, Vanuatu and Viet Nam) is confronted with pockets of deprived child populations and the issue of less severe deprivation. Alternative policy approaches to reduce child poverty in these two subsets of study countries are also discussed. |