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ZHOGHOVURD: ARMENIAN STATISTICAL SERVICE PLAYS WITH NUMBERS
February 22, 2014
YEREVAN. - The Armenian National Statistical Service issued the
poverty indicators in the country, Zhoghovurd daily reports.
"Accordingly, it was 35.8 in 2010, 35 in 2011, and 32.4 percent
in 2012.
"The official statistics attempted to show that the extreme poverty
rate also dropped; instead of the 3 percent in 2010, now it is 2.8
percent.
"These indicators, however, do not mean that poverty has truly
reduced inArmenia. In reality, people continue to live in the same
poor conditions. But as a result of hocus-pocus with numbers, there
is the impression that this indicator is dropping.
"The thing is that the authorities have consistently raised the
poverty threshold every year; that is, if a person with a monthly
income of 33,500 drams [approx. $81] was considered poor in the past,
now, however, it is the one who has 37,000 drams [approx. $90].
"The fact that they attempted to show that they are resolving
the socioeconomic issues, by slightly raising the minimum wage,
has played a major role in the reduction of the poverty number,"
Zhoghovurd writes.
News from Armenia - NEWS.am
February 22, 2014
YEREVAN. - The Armenian National Statistical Service issued the
poverty indicators in the country, Zhoghovurd daily reports.
"Accordingly, it was 35.8 in 2010, 35 in 2011, and 32.4 percent
in 2012.
"The official statistics attempted to show that the extreme poverty
rate also dropped; instead of the 3 percent in 2010, now it is 2.8
percent.
"These indicators, however, do not mean that poverty has truly
reduced inArmenia. In reality, people continue to live in the same
poor conditions. But as a result of hocus-pocus with numbers, there
is the impression that this indicator is dropping.
"The thing is that the authorities have consistently raised the
poverty threshold every year; that is, if a person with a monthly
income of 33,500 drams [approx. $81] was considered poor in the past,
now, however, it is the one who has 37,000 drams [approx. $90].
"The fact that they attempted to show that they are resolving
the socioeconomic issues, by slightly raising the minimum wage,
has played a major role in the reduction of the poverty number,"
Zhoghovurd writes.
News from Armenia - NEWS.am