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Welfare in Transition: Trends in Poverty and Well-being in Central Asia

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  • Jane Falkingham

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of the transition on living standards and welfare in the five Republics of former Soviet Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, along with the Republic of Azerbaijan. A broad definition of welfare is taken, including both economic measures and capability-based indicators, reflecting the health and education of the population. The picture that emerges is of a regional population facing severe economic, physical and psycho-social stress. Over half the population is now living in poverty. Real wages have fallen, joblessness has increased, school enrolment has dropped and general health has deteriorated. However, despite this gloomy picture, households are also proving to be remarkably resilient to the dramatic drop in living standards most have experienced. Nevertheless, strategies for alleviating poverty and encouraging regeneration that increase employment opportunities, improve the social safety net, and protect the region's human capital are urgently required.

Suggested Citation

  • Jane Falkingham, 1999. "Welfare in Transition: Trends in Poverty and Well-being in Central Asia," CASE Papers 020, Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion, LSE.
    • Handle: RePEc:cep:sticas:020
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    File URL: https://sticerd.lse.ac.uk/dps/case/cp/Paper20.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rutkowski, Michael, 1995. "Workers in transition," Policy Research Working Paper Series 1556, The World Bank.
    2. Pomfret, R & Anderson, K-H, 1997. "Uzbekistan : Welfare Impact of Slow Transition," Research Paper 135, World Institute for Development Economics Research.
    3. Atkinson, A B, 1987. "On the Measurement of Poverty," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 55(4), pages 749-764, July.
    4. Atkinson,Anthony Barnes & Micklewright,John, 1992. "Economic Transformation in Eastern Europe and the Distribution of Income," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521433297.
    5. Peter Lanjouw, 1997. "How Important is a Poverty Line in the Central Asian Context?," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Jane Falkingham & Jeni Klugman & Sheila Marnie & John Micklewright (ed.), Household Welfare in Central Asia, chapter 4, pages 61-77, Palgrave Macmillan.
    6. Pomfret, Richard & Anderson, Kathryn H., "undated". "Uzbekistan: Welfare Impact of Slow Transition," WIDER Working Papers 295460, United Nations University, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    7. Jane Falkingham & Jeni Klugman & Sheila Marnie & John Micklewright (ed.), 1997. "Household Welfare in Central Asia," Palgrave Macmillan Books, Palgrave Macmillan, number 978-1-349-25475-0, December.
    8. Atkinson,Anthony Barnes & Micklewright,John, 1992. "Economic Transformation in Eastern Europe and the Distribution of Income," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521438827.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jane Falkingham, 2000. "From Security to Uncertainty: The impact of economic change on child welfare in central Asia," Papers inwopa00/5, Innocenti Working Papers.
    2. *Unicef, 2006. "Innocenti Social Monitor 2006: Understanding child poverty in South-Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States," Papers insomo06/8, Innocenti Social Monitor.
    3. Jennifer Franz & Felix R. FitzRoy, 2005. "Child mortaility, poverty and environment in developing countries," Discussion Paper Series, School of Economics and Finance 200518, School of Economics and Finance, University of St Andrews.

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