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The Foster–Greer–Thorbecke (FGT) poverty measures: 25 years later

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Abstract

Twenty-five years ago, the FGT class of decomposable poverty measures was introduced in Foster, Greer, and Thorbecke (Econometrica 52:761–776, 1984). The present study provides a retrospective view of the FGT paper and the subsequent literature, as well as a brief discussion of future directions. We identify three categories of contributions: to measurement, to axiomatics, and to application. A representative subset of the literature generated by the FGT methodology is discussed and grouped according to this taxonomy. We show how the FGT paper has played a central role in several thriving literatures and has contributed to the design, implementation, and evaluation of prominent development programs; the breadth of its impact is evidenced by the many topics beyond poverty to which its methodology has been applied. We conclude with a selection of prospective research topics.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Elliott School of International Affairs and the Department of Economics, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, 20052, USA

    James Foster

  2. Oxford Poverty & Human Development Initiative, Oxford Dept of International Development, University of Oxford, QEH, 3 Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3TB, UK

    James Foster

  3. Department of Health & Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD, 21244, USA

    Joel Greer

  4. Department of Economics and Division of Nutritional Sciences, B-16 MVR, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA

    Erik Thorbecke

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  1. James Foster
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  3. Erik Thorbecke
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Foster, J., Greer, J. & Thorbecke, E. The Foster–Greer–Thorbecke (FGT) poverty measures: 25 years later. J Econ Inequal 8, 491–524 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10888-010-9136-1

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