People>Academic & Research Staff>
Sabina Alkire
SHARE

Dr Sabina Alkire

Director, OPHI, and Professor of Poverty and Human Development

Sabina Alkire directs the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) at ODID.

Her research interests include multidimensional poverty measurement and analysis, welfare economics, the capability approach, the measurement of freedoms and human development. 

Together with Professor James Foster, she developed the Alkire-Foster (AF) method for measuring multidimensional poverty, a flexible technique that can incorporate different dimensions, or aspects of poverty, to create measures tailored to each context. With colleagues at OPHI this has been applied and implemented empirically to produce a Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI). The MPI offers a tool to identify who is poor by considering the range of deprivations they suffer. It is used to report a headline figure of poverty (the MPI), which can be unpacked to provide a detailed information platform for policy design showing how people are poor nationally, and how they are poor by areas, groups, and by each indicator.

Previously, she worked at the George Washington University, Harvard University, the Human Security Commission, and the World Bank. She has a DPhil in Economics from the University of Oxford.

She holds a DPhil in Economics, an Msc in Economics for Development and an MPhil in Christian Political Ethics from the University of Oxford.

Research
Teaching
Publications
News
In the media
From a global measure to South-South collaboration on poverty measurement
LEARN MORE
research_impact
51
view
Broadening the global understanding of poverty
LEARN MORE
research_impact
51
view

Sabina Alkire teaches research methods and lectures on the core course in development studies for the MPhil in Development Studies, as well as offering an option on Poverty and Human Development. 

Research Students supervised

view
Samuel McQuillen
Research Student
Alkire, Sabina (2003) 'A Conceptual Framework for Human Security',

Books and monographs
Alkire, Sabina (with Paola Ballon, James Foster, Jose Manuel Roche, Maria Emma Santos, Suman Seth) (2015) 'Multidimensional Poverty Measurement and Analysis: A Counting Approach', Oxford: Oxford University Press
Alkire, Sabina (with F Comim, M Qizilbash) (2008) '(eds) The Capability Approach: Concepts, Measures and Applications', Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Alkire, Sabina (2005) 'Valuing Freedoms: Sen's Capability Approach and Poverty Reduction', Oxford: Oxford University Press (Monograph)

Journal articles and special issues
Alkire, Sabina (with Frank Vollmer) (2022) 'Consolidating and improving the assets indicator in the global Multidimensional Poverty Index', World Development
Alkire, Sabina (2021) 'Children and Multidimensional Poverty. Four Measurement Strategies', Sustainability 16 (13) 9108
Alkire, Sabina (with Seth Suman ) (2021) 'Multidimensional poverty and inclusive growth in India: An analysis using growth elasticities and semi-elasticities', Research on Economic Inequality 29
Alkire, Sabina (2021) 'Examining multidimensional poverty reduction in India 2005/6–2015/16: Insights and oversights of the headcount ratio', World Development
Alkire, Sabina (2020) 'Revisions of the global multidimensional poverty index: indicator options and their empirical assessment', Oxford Development Studies
Alkire, Sabina (with José Manuel Roche, Ana Vaza) (2017) 'Changes Over Time in Multidimensional Poverty: Methodology and Results for 34 Countries', World Development 94 232-49
Alkire, Sabina (with Mauricio Apablaza, Satya Chakravarty and Gaston Yalonetzky) (2017) 'Measuring chronic multidimensional poverty', Journal of Policy Modeling
Alkire, Sabina (with Suman Seth) (2015) 'Multidimensional Poverty Reduction in India between 1999 and 2006: Where and How?', World Development 72 93-108
Alkire, Sabina (2014) 'Measuring Acute Poverty in the Developing World: Robustness and Scope of the Multidimensional Poverty Index', World Development 59 251-74
Alkire, Sabina (with Suman Seth) (2013) 'Selecting a Targeting Method to Identify BPL Households in India', Social Indicators Research 112 (2) 417-46
Alkire, Sabina (with Maria Emma Santos) (2013) 'A Multidimensional Approach: Poverty Measurement and Beyond', Social Indicators Research 112 (2) 239-57
Alkire, Sabina (with Ruth Meinzen-Dick, Amber Peterman, Agnes Quisumbing, Greg Seymour and Ana Vaz) (2013) 'The Women's Empowerment in Agriculture Index', World Development 52 71–91
Alkire, Sabina (with Andy Sumner) (2013) 'Multidimensional Poverty and the Post-2015 MDGs', Development 56 (1) 46-51
Alkire, Sabina (with J Foster) (2011) 'Counting and Multidimensional Poverty Measurement', Journal of Public Economics 95(7-8) 476-87
Alkire, Sabina (with J Foster) (2011) 'Understandings and Misunderstandings of Multidimensional Poverty Measurement', Journal of Economic Inequality 9 289-314
Alkire, Sabina (with W Xiaolin) (2009) 'Measurement of Multidimensional Poverty in China: Estimationa and Policy Implications', Chinese Rural Economy 12 4-10
Alkire, Sabina (with S Seth) (2009) 'Determining BPL Status: Some Methodological Improvements', Indian Journal of Human Development 2(2) 407-24
Alkire, Sabina (with S Ibrahim) (2007) 'The Missing Dimensions of Poverty Data: Introduction to the Special Issue', Oxford Development Studies 35(4) 379-403
Alkire, Sabina (with S Ibrahim) (2007) 'Agency and Empowerment: A Proposal for Internationally Comparable Indicators', Oxford Development Studies 35(4) 379-403
Alkire, Sabina (2005) 'Subjective Quantitative Studies of Human Agency', Social Indicators Research 74(1) 217-60
Alkire, Sabina (2005) 'Why the Capability Approach', Journal of Human Development 6(1) 115-35
Alkire, Sabina (with L Chen) (2004) 'Global Health and Moral Values', The Lancet 364(9439) 1069-74
Alkire, Sabina (2002) 'Dimensions of Human Development', World Development 30(2) 181-205
Alkire, Sabina (with R Black) (1997) 'A Practical Reasoning Theory of Development Ethics: Furthering the Capabilities Approach', Journal of International Develoment 9(2) 263-79
Alkire, Sabina (with R Black, D Clough, E Gregory) (1994) 'This Unemployment, Disaster or Opportunity', Theology 97(780) 402-13

Chapters
Alkire, Sabina (2017) 'Did Poverty Reduction Reach the Poorest of the Poor? Complementary Measures of Poverty and Inequality in the Counting Approach'. In Sanghamitra Bandyopadhyay (ed) Research on Economic Inequality , Emerald Publishing Limited
Alkire, Sabina (with Jose Manuel Roche) (2012) 'Beyond Headcount: The Alkire-Foster Approach to Multidimensional Child Poverty Measurement'. In Isabel Ortiz, Louise Moreira Daniels, Sólrún Engilbertsdóttir (eds) Child Poverty and Inequality: New Perspectives , UNICEF
Alkire, Sabina (2011) 'Multidimensional Poverty and Its Discontents'. Measure for Measure: How Well do We Measure Development? , Paris: AFD, EUDN
Alkire, Sabina (2010) 'Development: A Misconceived Theory Can Kill'. In C Morris (ed) Amartya Sen: Contemporary Philosophy in Focus , Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Alkire, Sabina (with M E Santos) (2009) 'Poverty and Inequality Measurement'. In S Deneulin, L Shahani (eds) An Introduction to the Human Development and Capability Approach: Freedom and Agency , Earthscan and International Development Research Centre
Alkire, Sabina (with J Foster) (2009) 'Counting and Multidimensional Poverty'. In J von Braun, R Vargas Hill, R Pandya-Lorch (eds) The Poorest and Hungry: Assessment, Analysis and Actions , Washington DC: International Food Policy Research Institute
Alkire, Sabina (2009) 'The Capability Approach as a Development Paradigm'. In E Chiappero-Martinetti (ed) Debating Global Society: Reach and Limits of the Capability Approach , Milan: Feltrinelli Foundation
Alkire, Sabina (with S Deneulin) (2009) 'A Normative Framework for Development'. In S Deneulin, L Shahani (eds) An Introduction to the Human Development and Capability Approach: Freedom and Agency , Earthscan, International Development Research Centre
Alkire, Sabina (with S Deneulin) (2009) 'The Human Development and Capability Approach'. In S Deneulin, L Shahani (eds) An Introduction to the Human Development and Capability Approach: Freedom and Agency , Earthscan and International Development Research Centre
Alkire, Sabina (with F Comim, M Qizilbash) (2008) 'Introduction'. In F Comim, M Qizilbash, S Alkire (eds) The Capability Approach: Concepts, Measures and Applications , Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Alkire, Sabina (2008) 'Using the Capability Approach: Prospective and Evaluative Analyses'. In F Comim, M Qizilbash, S Alkire (eds) The Capability Approach: Concepts, Measures and Applications , Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Alkire, Sabina (2008) 'Concepts and Measures of Agency'. In K Basu, R Kanbur (eds) Arguments for a Better World: Essasys in Honour of Amartya Sen; Volume 1: Ethics, Welfare and Measurement , Oxford: Oxford University Press
Alkire, Sabina (2008) 'Choosing Dimensions: The Capability Approach and Multidimensional Poverty'. In N Kakwani, J Silber (eds) The Many Dimensions of Poverty , Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan
Alkire, Sabina (2007) 'Measuring Freedoms Alongside Well-Being'. In I Gough, J Allister McGregor (eds) Well-Being in Developing Countries: New Approaches and Research Strategies , Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Alkire, Sabina (2006) 'Public Debate and Value Construction in Sen's Approach'. In A Kaufman (ed) Capabilities Equality: Basic Issues and Problems , London: Routledge
Alkire, Sabina (2006) 'Needs and Capabilities'. In S Reader (ed) The Philosophy of Need , Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Alkire, Sabina (with L Chen) (2006) 'Medical Exceptionalism in International Migration: Should Doctors and Nurses be Treated Differently?'. In K Tomas, J Palme (eds) Globalizing Migration Regimes , Aldershot: Ashgate
Alkire, Sabina (2006) 'Structural Injustice and Democratic Practice: The Trajectory in Sen's Writings'. In S Deneulin, M Nebel, N Sagovsky (eds) Transforming Unjust Structures: The Capability Approach , Dordrecht: Springer
Alkire, Sabina (2006) 'Religion and Development'. In D A Clark (ed) The Elgar Companion to Development Studies , Cheltenham: Edward Elgar
Alkire, Sabina (2004) 'The Role of External Actors'. In V Rao, M Walton (eds) Culture and Public Action: A Cross-Disciplinary Dialogue on Development Policy , Stanford: Stanford University Press
Alkire, Sabina (2003) 'Concepts of Human Security'. In L Chen, S Fukuda-Parr, E Seidensticker (eds) Human Insecurity in a Global World , Cambridge: Harvard Univeristy Press
Alkire, Sabina (2002) 'Global Citizenship and Common Values'. In N Dower, J Williams (eds) Global Citizenship: A Critical Reader , Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press
Alkire, Sabina (with S Deneulin) (2002) 'Individual Motivation, Its Nature, Determinants and Consequences for Within-Group Behaviour'. In J Heyer, F Stewart, R Thorp (eds) Group Motivation and Development: Is the Market Destroying Cooperation? , Oxford: Oxford University Press
Alkire, Sabina (2001) 'The Basic Dimensions of Human Flourishing: A Comparison of Accounts'. In N Biggar, R Black (eds) The Revival of Natural Law , Aldershot: Ashgate

Working papers
Alkire, Sabina (with M E Santos) (2010) 'Acute Multidimensional Poverty: A New Index for Developing Countries', OPHI Working Paper No. 38; UNDP Human Development Report Background Paper
Alkire, Sabina (with J Foster) (2010) 'Designing the Inequality-Adjusted Human Development Index (HDI)', OPHI Working Paper No. 37; UNDP Human Development Report Background Paper
Alkire, Sabina (2010) 'Human Development: Definitions, Critiques and Related Concepts', OPHI Working Paper No. 36; UNDP Human Development Report Background Paper

Other publications
Alkire, Sabina (with J Dirksen, R Nogales, C Oldiges) (2020) 'Multidimensional Poverty and Vulnerability to COVID-19. A Rapid Overview of Disaggregated and Interlinked Vulnerabilities in Sub-Saharan Africa', OPHI Briefing 54 Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative, University of Oxford
Alkire, Sabina (with J Dirksen, R Nogales, C Oldiges ) (2020) 'Multidimensional Poverty and COVID-19 Risk Factors. A Rapid Overview of Interlinked Deprivations Across 5.8 Billion People', OPHI Briefing 53a Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), University of Oxford
Alkire, Sabina (with J Dirksen, R Nogales, C Oldiges) (2020) 'Multidimensional Poverty and COVID-19 Risk Factors. A Rapid Overview of Interlinked Deprivations Across 5.7 Billion People', OPHI Briefing 53 Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative, University of Oxford
Alkire, Sabina (with J Dirksen, C Oldiges, R Nogales) (2020) 'Multidimensional Poverty and the Risk from COVID-19', Dimensions 9 7-10
Alkire, Sabina (with J Dirksen, R Nogales, C Oldiges) (2020) 'Multidimensional Poverty and Vulnerability to COVID-19. A Rapid Overview of Disaggregated and Interlinked Vulnerabilities in Sub-Saharan Africa', OPHI Briefing 54a Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative, University of Oxford
Alkire, Sabina (with M Chatterjee, Adriana Conconi, Suman Seth and Ana Vaz) (2014) 'The Global Multidimensional Poverty Index 2014: An Overview', Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative Policy Briefing Oxford: OPHI
Alkire, Sabina (with M Chatterjee, Adriana Conconi, Suman Seth and Ana Vaz) (2014) 'Destitution: Who and where are the poorest of the poor?', Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative Policy Briefing Oxford: OPHI
Alkire, Sabina (with M Chatterjee, Adriana Conconi, Suman Seth and Ana Vaz) (2014) 'Poverty in Rural and Urban Areas? ', Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative Policy Briefing Oxford: OPHI
17 October, 2022
Global Multidimensional Poverty Index 2022 exploring deprivation bundles launched
view
06 September, 2022
Sabina Alkire awarded full professorship
view
03 March, 2022
Sabina Alkire gives evidence to House of Commons International Development Committee
view
11 October, 2021
Two-thirds of the world’s poor have no educated females at home
view
01 October, 2021
Sabina Alkire, Xiaolan Fu and Frances Stewart named Fellows of the Academy of Social Sciences
view
22 March, 2021
New OPHI article analyses poverty in India using Multidimensional Poverty Index vs headcount ratio
view
09 November, 2020
New donation for OPHI research into links between poverty and the environment
view
15 October, 2020
Honduras pilot project strengthens transparency in fight against COVID vulnerability
view
16 July, 2020
Progress against multidimensional poverty at risk, 2020 global MPI shows
view
15 May, 2020
2020 BMI Prize awarded to Sabina Alkire 
view

Pages

15 Jul, 2021
'We can make progress on global poverty — in spite of Covid'. Sabina Alkire writes for the Financial Times
link
29 Jul, 2020
'Keeping Poverty Reduction Front and Center'. Juan Manuel Santos and Sabina Alkire write for Project Syndicate on the need to seize the opportunity presented by the pandemic to build a more inclusive and sustainable world
link
19 Jul, 2020
'Coronavirus could reverse a decade of progress in reducing global poverty levels, UN study suggests'. The Independent writes about the 2020 global MPI from OPHI and the UNDP and COVID-19
link
02 Jun, 2020
'History tells us coronavirus pandemic could lead to global reduction in poverty, Oxford academic says'. Sabina Alkire interviewed by the Independent
link
17 Apr, 2020
'Nearly 60 million of India’s poor most vulnerable'. Sabina Alkire and Christian Oldiges spoke to Hindustan Times about the high risk of the pandemic to India's most poor
link
Research interests:

Development economics; human development; the capability approach; measurement