Measuring poverty from the point of view of individuals: Colombia and Valle del Cauca

A Colombian household is considered poor when its income in Colombian pesos (COP) is lower than 1 142 097; while in Valle del Cauca, this fi gure is 872 545 COP. The difference between the value of the subjective line for the national average and for Valle del Cauca suggests that multiple issues infl uence the perception of poverty. The empirical literature associates them with the regional economic characteristics and the different supplies of human and social capital. The subjective measurements of poverty complement the objective measurements (generally based on income) and jointly constitute the bases for a better comprehension of poverty and the design of effective politics to overcome it.