La pobreza en Argentina

Entre las estadísticas y la vida cotidiana

Abstract

This paper addresses the issue of poverty in Argentina and the complexities involved in understanding why statistical figures do not align with the day-to-day realities faced by individuals and families. Adopting a critical perspective, the study examines the methodological limitations of the unidimensional, monetary measurement approach employed by INDEC. It highlights how the use of outdated consumption baskets (based on the 2004/2005 ENGHo survey) and the exclusion of rental costs lead to an underestimation of the current cost of living. Furthermore, the analysis demonstrates that the statistical reduction in poverty and extreme poverty is not driven by improvements in the labor market or real wages, but primarily by the impact of state income transfers—such as the Universal Child Allowance (AUH)—and by technical changes in income data collection that affect historical comparability. Alternative measurements and studies, such as those by CEDLAS, show a much smaller decline in poverty and underscore the importance of shifting toward multidimensional measurement frameworks that better reflect the actual well-being and social reproduction conditions of families in Argentina.