Was referring to the methodology in the UNICEF report Stiglitz linked[1]. While not a relative poverty measure the regular Census methodology you refer to has

Was referring to the methodology in the UNICEF report Stiglitz linked[1]. While not a relative poverty measure the regular Census methodology you refer to has all the other weaknesses I mentioned but the biggest is it is based on a rather arbitrary level established in the 1960s then updated based on broad inflation. Not clear how relevant these thresholds are today - may be worse or better. BTW - Census also has a relative poverty measure, known as the "supplemental poverty measure". [1] http://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/rc10_eng.pdf http://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/rc10_eng.pdf