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Poverty reduction, economic growth and inequality in Africa

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  • Fassil Fanta
  • Mukti Upadhyay

Abstract

We study the relationships among economic growth, inequality and poverty. Economists agree that growth is fundamental to reducing poverty. But the links among growth, distribution and poverty is still a subject of debate because the growth elasticity of poverty seems to differ from one country to another. Using a data set for 16 African countries, based on household budget surveys, we find strong support that poverty decreases in response to economic growth, with the estimated elasticity ranging between -0.5 and -1.10. Other variables, albeit important in varying degrees, are much less significant as determinants of poverty.

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  • Fassil Fanta & Mukti Upadhyay, 2009. "Poverty reduction, economic growth and inequality in Africa," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(18), pages 1791-1794.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:apeclt:v:16:y:2009:i:18:p:1791-1794
    DOI: 10.1080/13504850701719587
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Isaac Kwesi Ofori & Toyo Amègnonna Marcel Dossou & Seyi Saint Akadiri, 2023. "Towards the quest to reduce income inequality in Africa: is there a synergy between tourism development and governance?," Current Issues in Tourism, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(3), pages 429-449, February.
    2. Channing Arndt & Sam Jones & Finn Tarp, 2011. "Aid Effectiveness: Opening the Black Box," WIDER Working Paper Series 044, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    3. Enisan Akinlo, Anthony, 2021. "Dynamic Linkages Between Government-Interventionists’ Policies, Growth, Inequality And Poverty In Nigeria," Ilorin Journal of Economic Policy, Department of Economics, University of Ilorin, vol. 8(2), pages 45-64, June.
    4. , Le Thanh Tung, 2022. "The relationship between income growth and inequality: Evidence from an Asian emerging economy," OSF Preprints hq98y, Center for Open Science.
    5. Perera, Liyanage Devangi H. & Lee, Grace H.Y., 2013. "Have economic growth and institutional quality contributed to poverty and inequality reduction in Asia?," MPRA Paper 52763, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Oberdabernig, Doris A., 2013. "Revisiting the Effects of IMF Programs on Poverty and Inequality," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 113-142.
    7. Fiona Tregenna, 2011. "Halving Poverty in South Africa: Growth and Distributional Aspects," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2011-060, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    8. T. M. Tonmoy Islam, 2016. "Estimating the Elasticity of Growth in the US Using the Generalized Means of Income," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 129(1), pages 95-112, October.
    9. Tregenna, Fiona, 2011. "Halving Poverty in South Africa: Growth and Distributional Aspects," WIDER Working Paper Series 060, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    10. Ademola Obafemi YOUNG, 2019. "Why Has Growth Not Trickled Down to the Poor? A Study of Nigeria," Review of European Studies, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 11(1), pages 156-156, December.
    11. Yohannes Kefale Mogess & Zerayehu Sime Eshete & Abadi Teferi Alemaw, 2023. "Economic growth and poverty reduction: Evidence from Sub‐Saharan African (SSA) countries," Poverty & Public Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 15(2), pages 251-278, June.

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