"This paper proposes a method for controlling for compositional factors in the measurement of poverty. The method is based on the notion of 'direct standardisation', used extensively in the field of demography.... With this class of standardised measures, it [is] possible to examine underlying differences in poverty while controlling for compositional factors known to be correlated with the incidence and intensity of poverty. The method is illustrated by examining the relationship between household structure and poverty in seven European countries: France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland and Great Britain. The data are centered around 1985 and form part of the Luxembourg Income Study." (SUMMARY IN FRE AND ITA)