A new technique to measure poverty using the theory of fuzzy logic.

This paper presents a new methodology to study poverty in Venezuela using the tools of fuzzy logic. Through fuzzy logic the authors were able to come up with the design and use of poverty lines, instead of the traditional lines, to identify households in poverty in the various sectors of the city of Merida. For this purpose, the following poverty related variables were identified: food, utilities, clothing and footwear, education services, housing, health services, recreation services, transportation, and personal services. These variables allowed the inclusion of a large number of households in the study. The instruments of fuzzy logic for the treatment of fuzzy and uncertain information allow taking subjective knowledge about a real problem. This study led to discover the remarkable aspects of poverty in households and has the potential of contribuiting to the process of local decision making.