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Home » Topics » Wealth Index » How wealth indices align with income and consumption measures
How wealth indices align with income and consumption measures [message #31402] Tue, 16 September 2025 03:54 Go to next message
ruineddapper is currently offline  ruineddapper
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Registered: September 2025
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Hi everyone, I'm new here and just getting started. I'm curious -- how do wealth indices compare with income and consumption measures? Could someone explain this to me? Thanks a lot!
Re: How wealth indices align with income and consumption measures [message #31478 is a reply to message #31402] Fri, 03 October 2025 12:26 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Yiqun Luan is currently offline  Yiqun Luan
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Registered: February 2021
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Hello, I am not a DHS team member but a DHS data user.

My understanding is that the wealth indices are derived from a method called Principal Factor Analysis, which is a calculation based on what assets a household has. Such as whether the household has a designated place for handwashing, what material the walls or ceiling are made of, etc. The status of asset possession among households can be obtained through either the interviewer's observation or the respondents' responses. If I remember correctly, the DHS does not collect income and consumption data. The Living Standards Measurement Survey from the World Bank has modules that collect income and consumption data. These two types of measures, asset-based and income-and-consumption-based, have their own advantages and disadvantages. For example, respondents might overstate or understate their income/consumption, whereas the observation of asset possession is a more objective measure. However, on the contrary, the possession of assets may not be a reliable proxy for large temporary income or may not accurately reflect the current market value of assets.
Re: How wealth indices align with income and consumption measures [message #31934 is a reply to message #31402] Mon, 06 July 2026 11:01 Go to previous message
lilysmith10 is currently offline  lilysmith10
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Registered: July 2026
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From my experience working with DHS data, the wealth index is best viewed as a measure of a household's long-term living standard based on assets and housing characteristics, whereas income and consumption reflect current financial resources and spending, so they're related but not directly interchangeable
https://www.dhsprogram.com/publications/publication-cr6-comp arative-reports.cfmescape road 2
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