This is consistent with the point made previously: it is more difficult to reduce relative poverty, because it requires the incomes of the poorest not only to rise, but to rise by more than die incomes of the wealthiest. So, insofar as the trend towards lower absolute poverty continues in the region, it becomes increasingly important to take the relative perspective into account in poverty measurement. These baskets originated in the works of Booth (1892 and 1897) and Rowntree (1901,1936 and 1951), and included basically subsistence goods. For example, Rowntree’s work of 1936 included: (i) intake of food to maintain health and the ability to work, (ii) a house with three bedrooms, a living room, kitchen and bathroom, (iii) clothing fit to maintain bodily health, and (iv) cleaning materials and repair or replacement of household utensils.