this is consistent with the point made previously it is more difficult to reduce relative poverty because it requires the incomes of the poorest not only to rise but to rise by more than die incomes of the wealthiest so insofar as the trend towards lower absolute poverty continues in the region it becomes increasingly important to take the relative perspective into account in poverty measurement these baskets originated in the works of booth and and rowntree and and included basically subsistence goods for example rowntree s work of included i intake of food to maintain health and the ability to work ii a house with three bedrooms a living room kitchen and bathroom iii clothing fit to maintain bodily health and iv cleaning materials and repair or replacement of household utensils