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Poverty and Inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa: Literature Survey and Empirical Assessment

Author

Listed:
  • Delfin Go

    (Africa Department, the World Bank)

  • Denis Nikitin

    (Development Research Group, the World Bank)

  • Xiongjian Wang

    (CEMA, Central University)

  • Heng-fu Zou

    (CEMA, Central University
    IAS, Wuhan University
    Peking University
    Development Research Group, the World Bank)

Abstract

This paper surveys the literature and assesses the magnitude, persistence, and depth of poverty and inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa using empirical analysis. Our analysis explores linkages between three key facts about development in Sub-Saharan Africa: poor economic growth, poor performance in terms of public health indicators, and resilient high-income inequality. Most of the differential between growth rates in Sub-Saharan Africa and other developing countries can be explained by two measures of human capital-secondary enrolment and infant mortality. We also find that the growth trend in Sub-Saharan Africa does not significantly differ from other developing countries that have fallen into a poverty trap.

Suggested Citation

  • Delfin Go & Denis Nikitin & Xiongjian Wang & Heng-fu Zou, 2011. "Poverty and Inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa: Literature Survey and Empirical Assessment," CEMA Working Papers 485, China Economics and Management Academy, Central University of Finance and Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:cuf:wpaper:485
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Tomšík, K. & Smutka, L. & Lubanda, J.-P. E. & Rohn, H., 2015. "Position of Agriculture in Sub-Saharan GDP Structure and Economic Performance," AGRIS on-line Papers in Economics and Informatics, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Economics and Management, vol. 0(Number 1), pages 1-12, March.
    2. Godfrey Madigu, 2014. "The influence of services on firm productivity in Sub-saharan Africa," NCID Working Papers 02/2014, Navarra Center for International Development, University of Navarra.
    3. Daouda Sembene, 2015. "Poverty, Growth, and Inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa; Did the Walk Match the Talk under the PRSP Approach?," IMF Working Papers 15/122, International Monetary Fund.
    4. Facundo Alvaredo & Leonardo Gasparini, 2013. "Recent Trends in Inequality and Poverty in Developing Countries," CEDLAS, Working Papers 0151, CEDLAS, Universidad Nacional de La Plata.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Poverty; Inequality; African Economy;

    JEL classification:

    • D41 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Perfect Competition

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