Theoretical and empirical analyses of poverty often seem to be dealing with different concepts. While theorists emphasize the importance of considering deprivation, rights and capabilities as well as the money incomes of the poor, most empirical studies continue to rely on income data as the sole or primary measure of poverty. This selection attempts to bridge the gap, applying a multidimensional definition of poverty to a survey of Irish households, and drawing out the implications of the empirical findings for ongoing theoretical debates.
