Gender and multidimensional poverty in Tunisia: An individual approach

Riadh Brini & Olfa Chaouech

Abstract
This paper contributes to the expanding literature on multidimensional poverty and gender inequality in Tunisia by presenting an individual measure of multidimensional poverty. It also aims to estimate the gender disparities within multidimensional poverty indices. Our findings indicate that the overall gender gap in multidimensional poverty in Tunisia is less than 11%. Poverty appears to be feminised, with women experiencing more severe poverty than men, particularly among the elderly population. However, it is important to note that inequality among elderly individuals living in multidimensional poverty is masculinised. Furthermore, our analysis shows that, when we incorporate dimensions of employment for adults and social protection for the elderly, it becomes evident that Tunisian women are poorer than their male counterparts. Lastly, we find that female-headed households face greater poverty challenges compared to those led by men.