Desenvolvimento de Índices de Caracterização do Território para o Estudo da Pobreza Rural em Portugal Continental

Abstract

Several studies in Portugal have shown that poverty is not evenly distributed across the territory, pointing to a higher incidence of poverty in rural areas than in urban areas. However, the great heterogeneity of territorial contexts makes the rural-urban distinction insufficient to study rural poverty and to identify the structural features specific to rural locations that can explain the differences found. This requires a more detailed characterization of territorial units, geared to the theoretical and empirically verified aspects of rural location influence on poverty. This article presents the development of four territory characterization indices that seek to meet that need: the rurality index, the accessibility index and two characterization indices of economic context.