This paper is devoted to poverty and inequality in Poland in 1990-1997. In accord with the poverty line calculated by the government institution, income poverty rate did rise from 24 to 44 percent of households over investigated period. However, these results are questionable, mainly due to overestimation of that poverty threshold. Therefore, it has been updated in accord with the actual changes in costs of living of the poor.
Poverty rates based on the updated threshold are much lower and substantially below initial levels.
Alterations in average well-being and inequality almost equally contributed to changes in poverty rates. Households of unemployed or low educated persons, those led by females and families with at least two children are at the highest, persistent risk of poverty. Click here for complete document in PDF format. This site is sponsored by the Development Research Group of the World Bank. For questions or comments, please contact Branko Milanovic .