04/09/2026
We thank everyone who joined us, both in person and online, for our hybrid lecture-seminar, “Poverty Is Real, but Its Measurement Is Not Automatic: Understanding Poverty Statistics and Their Policy Implications,” held on September 1, 2026.
We extend our sincere appreciation to our main speaker, Dr. Jose Ramon G. Albert, Senior Research Fellow at the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) and former Secretary-General of the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB), for his engaging and thought-provoking discussion on the complexities of poverty measurement. His presentation underscored an important point: while poverty is a lived reality, the statistics used to describe it are shaped by methodological choices—including what is measured, how the poverty line is defined, which data and indicators are used, and how changes over time are interpreted. These choices matter because poverty statistics inform policy priorities, resource allocation, and the design of social protection and development programs.
We are equally grateful to our distinguished discussants, Prof. Nanak Kakwani, Distinguished Fellow at GIFT India, and Dr. Celia Reyes, Senior Research Fellow at PIDS, whose insightful commentaries enriched the discussion on the strengths and limitations of conventional poverty measures. They also emphasized the importance of looking beyond a single headline poverty rate to better understand deprivation, vulnerability, inequality, and well-being.
The seminar reaffirmed that measuring poverty is not simply a statistical exercise—it is also a policy choice with significant consequences for individuals and communities. Effective policymaking begins with credible evidence, but it also requires continuous assessment of whether our measures adequately reflect the realities they are intended to capture.
We look forward to continuing these discussions and strengthening the link between rigorous research, informed public discourse, and policies that promote inclusive and sustainable development. 📊
