Assessment of poverty among the employees of the University of Gezira: empirical analysis, 2006

This study aimed at estimating an income poverty line based on calorie requirements along with the different poverty indices, by applying the estimated poverty line to income distribution data for people working at the University of Gezira. To estimate the poverty line, Annand and Nur (1988) methodology was followed using three selected consumption baskets to represent different consumption habits in Sudan. Applying the prices of 2006 on the consumption items of the selected baskets, the average cost of these baskets was obtained representing a minimum cash requirement for food consumption. Multiplying the above minimum cash requirement for food consumption by a conversion factor of 2, we obtained the poverty line for the year 2006. To estimate the poverty indices, the traditional measures of poverty such as the headcount, depth of poverty, severity of poverty, Gini Coefficient and Sen's measure were applied. Results showed that the household income poverty line for the year 2006 was equal to SD 74202.48 (approximately equivalent to $371) per month with a household size of 6.6. The head count index using expenditure and income approaches was equal to 48% and 54%, respectively. Moreover, results showed that the depth and severity of poverty using expenditure approach were equal to 17% and 8%, respectively; however, the depth and severity of poverty using income approach were equal to 24% and 13%, respectively. Regarding Sen's measure and Gini coefficient, results indicated that income was unequally distributed among the employees of the University of Gezira. In addition, results showed that the poverty indices using expenditure approach were below the poverty indices using income approach. This result may be attributed to the fact that people usually underestimate their income levels; hence, expenditure reflects the standard of living better than income