Self-improving properties of inequalities of Poincaré type on measure spaces and applications

We show that the self-improving nature of Poincaré estimates persists for domains in rather general measure spaces. We consider both weak type and strong type inequalities, extending techniques of B. Franchi, C. Pérez and R. Wheeden. As an application in spaces of homogeneous type, we derive global Poincaré estimates for a class of domains with rough boundaries that we call ?-John domains, and we show that such domains have the requisite properties. This class includes John (or Boman) domains as well as s-John domains. Further applications appear in a companion paper.