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While standardization of consumption aggregates does not affect the international poverty rankings for most countries, it has a significant effect on the poverty numbers for India. Table 11 shows the international extreme poverty rates calculated using national consumption aggregates and standardized consumption aggregates. In some cases, standardization increases the poverty rate, like in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. However, in the cases of India, Maldives, and Nepal, the standardization process decreases the international extreme poverty rate.

Table 11.

International Extreme Poverty Rate in South Asia Using the Standardized and National Consumption Aggregates

		Standardized Consumption Aggregates	National Consumption Aggregates	Difference (1) − (2)
	Year	(1)	(2)	(3)
Bangladesh	2010	19.44	18.52	0.92
Rural	2010	23.86	22.74	1.12
Urban	2010	7.01	6.67	0.34
Bhutan	2012	3.49	2.17	1.32
India	2011–2012	19.61	21.56	–1.95
Rural	2011–2012	24.20	24.83	–0.63
Urban	2011–2012	8.13	13.38	–5.25
Maldives	2009	6.10	7.25	–1.14
Nepal	2010	14.51	14.89	–0.38
Pakistan	2011–2012	9.24	7.93	1.31
Sri Lanka	2012–2013	2.06	1.92	0.14
South Asia		18.31	19.60	−1.29

		Standardized Consumption Aggregates	National Consumption Aggregates	Difference (1) − (2)
	Year	(1)	(2)	(3)
Bangladesh	2010	19.44	18.52	0.92
Rural	2010	23.86	22.74	1.12
Urban	2010	7.01	6.67	0.34
Bhutan	2012	3.49	2.17	1.32
India	2011–2012	19.61	21.56	–1.95
Rural	2011–2012	24.20	24.83	–0.63
Urban	2011–2012	8.13	13.38	–5.25
Maldives	2009	6.10	7.25	–1.14
Nepal	2010	14.51	14.89	–0.38
Pakistan	2011–2012	9.24	7.93	1.31
Sri Lanka	2012–2013	2.06	1.92	0.14
South Asia		18.31	19.60	−1.29

Notes: India's consumption aggregates reported are based on the Uniform Recall Period.

Source: Authors’ estimates based on South Asia Harmonized Micro Dataset (accessed September 15, 2017).

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