When Things Fall Apart: Qualitative Studies of Poverty in the Former Soviet Union

Over the past decade, the World Bank has evolved its analysis and reporting on poverty to a multi-dimensional view which includes issues of vulnerability, social isolation, and powerlessness. This broader construct, which considers the concepts of social exclusion and social capital, suggests the need for augmenting quantitative research with qualitative research. Qualitative research provides a focus on understanding human behavior, perceptions and practices that can then be applied to policy development.

This report presents specific examples drawn from World Bank work completed in the countries of the former Soviet Union. Each of these examples illustrates the gains that can be derived from combining the use of quantitative and qualitative research methods.