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The Poverty measurement and its determinants are the most important factors in poverty alleviation programs. In this paper, we estimate poverty line and its dimensions by using Linear Expenditure System. To that end, we use household level data from the Statistics Center of Iran during the period of 1994-2008. We examine the main determinants of poverty for urban households using a probit model. In this model, we assess the impact of key household characteristics on poverty. The results show that the poverty likelihood decreases if the educational level of the head of the household increases. In addition, the chance of being poor declines in a household headed by a male. The age of the head of the household, the ratio of income earners in the household, and the household size are other factors that have a significant role in the probability of being poor.

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Life insurance as an investment and assurance tool provides a great source of investment financing in different economies. Despite life insurance development in advanced countries and in many developing economies, it could not get its appropriate share in Iranian family’s basket. This paper investigates factors that affect life insurance demand in Iran. So, random sampling used to get required information in three provinces of Iran (Tehran, East Azerbayjan and Mazandaran). Factors are divided into two main groups: Socioeconomics and psychological. Required data were gathered using questionnaire. Results show that life insurance demand has negative relationship with individual expected health condition, premium, expected inflation, degree of risk aversion and income. Bequest, economic optimism, age, employment of partner and reading has positive relation with life insurance demand. Based on the sample, result show that life insurance demand is not affected by advertisements but is affected by others recommendations.