Mixed reference period
Also called: MRP · Topic: Economic Data: Census, NSS, Surveys and Statistical Tools · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The mixed reference period (MRP) is a way of asking households about their spending in a consumption survey. It uses different recall periods, meaning how far back people are asked to remember. For items bought rarely, the recall period is 365 days: clothing, bedding, footwear, durables, education and institutional medical care. For all other items, it is 30 days. A longer look-back catches rare purchases that a 30-day window would miss. Because the recall period changes the number people report, it also changes measured poverty.
Example
The Tendulkar poverty line was based on MRP spending. For the same household, measured monthly per capita consumption expenditure (MPCE) ranks MMRP > MRP > URP.
Don't confuse with
- Uniform reference period (URP): URP uses 30 days for every item.
- Modified mixed reference period (MMRP): MMRP adds a 7-day recall for perishable foods.