This article measures poverty in Mainland Portugal in 1980 and 1989, and assesses the changes that occurred during the 1980s. The study adopts an objective approach to measuring poverty and establishes the poverty line using a mix of 'normative' and 'behav ioural' methodologies. It is suggested that the poverty line should be considered as a sym bolic representation of a range, rather than a precise value. The pros and cons of choosing the various monetary indicators are discussed and the poverty line is expressed in terms of total consumption, as a proxy of a living con ditions index.
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