Two MIT profs have produced an interesting international study on The Economic Lives of the Poor.
Abstract: "This paper uses survey data from 13 countries to document the economic lives of the poor (those living on less than $2 dollar per day per capita at purchasing power parity) or the extremely poor (those living on less than $1 dollar per day). We describe their patterns of consumption and income generation as well as their access to markets and publicly provided infrastructure. The paper concludes with a discussion of some apparent anomalous choices."
Slate has a summary.
(HT: World Mag Blog)
