In Countries That Lack Financial Records, How Can We Tell Who is Truly Poor?

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.–(ENEWSPF)–August 25, 2011.  In developing nations, anti-poverty programs face a basic hurdle: Who, exactly, is poor enough to qualify for the aid being given out? Emerging states often lack the official records, such as income and tax documents, that are used to make those judgments in wealthier countries.

Now, a novel study co-authored by two MIT economists has identified a surprisingly effective way of deciding who, in the developing world, is especially poor: Let…