Changes in the Multidimensional Rural Poverty Index (MPI) in Colombia through the inclusion of fuel for cooking

Abstract

The Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) was introduced in Colombia in 2010 with the purpose of evaluating the quality of life of the inhabitants, taking into account aspects such as: health, education, work, childhood and housing. Its calculation does not include the fuel component used for cooking, despite its role in the quality of life and public health. This research proposes to include this last variable in such calculation, recognizing its relevance to understand the energy precariousness of households, especially in rural areas. The findings show that this inclusion increases the magnitude of the MPI in all departments of the country and produces significant changes in the estimation of rural poverty at the national level.