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Prospects for 'Pro-Poor' Growth in Africa

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  • Arne Bigsten
  • Abebe Shimeles

Abstract

This paper examines trends in income distribution and its linkages to economic growth and poverty reduction in order to understand the prospects for achieving poverty reduction in Africa. We examine the levels and trends in income distribution in some African countries and calculate pro-poor growth indices. Different growth patterns are simulated for Ethiopia, Uganda, Mozambique, and South Africa. We conclude that the balance between policies aimed at growth and measures aimed at redistribution should depend on the elasticity of the growth-equity tradeoff.

Suggested Citation

  • Arne Bigsten & Abebe Shimeles, 2004. "Prospects for 'Pro-Poor' Growth in Africa," WIDER Working Paper Series RP2004-42, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:rp2004-42
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    File URL: https://www.wider.unu.edu/sites/default/files/rp2004-042.pdf
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    Cited by:

    1. World Bank, 2005. "Burkina Faso : Reducing Poverty Through Sustained Equitable Growth, Poverty Assessment," World Bank Publications - Reports 8618, The World Bank Group.
    2. repec:rac:ecchap:2017-04 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Ehrhart, Christophe, 2006. "Croissance, redistribution et lutte contre la pauvreté : l’évolution non linéaire de l’approche de la Banque mondiale," L'Actualité Economique, Société Canadienne de Science Economique, vol. 82(4), pages 597-641, décembre.
    4. Gelaw, Fekadu & Sileshi, Million, 2013. "Impact of Grain Price Hikes on Poverty in Rural Ethiopia," African Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, African Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 8(2), pages 1-21, August.
    5. UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa & Haroon Bhorat & Karmen Naidoo, "undated". "Drivers of Inequality in the Context of the Growth-Poverty-Inequality Nexus in Africa: Overview of key issues," UNDP Africa Policy Notes 2017-04, United Nations Development Programme, Regional Bureau for Africa.
    6. Resnick, Danielle & Birner, Regina, 2006. "Does good governance contribute to pro-poor growth?: a review of the evidence from cross-country studies," DSGD discussion papers 30, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    7. Jean-Pierre Lachaud, 2003. "La croissance économique en Afrique sub-saharienne est-elle "pro-pauvres" ? Une investigation appliquée au Burkina Faso," Documents de travail 83, Groupe d'Economie du Développement de l'Université Montesquieu Bordeaux IV.
    8. Epo, Boniface Ngah & Abiala, Mireille Ambiana & Maimo, Clovis Wendji & Choub, Péguy Christophe Faha, 2010. "Globalization, Institutions, Asset Endowments and Poverty Reduction Outcomes in Africa within the Context of the Financial Crisis: Establishing a Transmission Mechanisms," MPRA Paper 20655, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    9. Resnick, Danielle & Birner, Regina, 2005. "Does Good Governance Contribute to Pro-poor Growth?: A Conceptual Framework and Empirical Evidence from Cross-Country Studies," Proceedings of the German Development Economics Conference, Kiel 2005 5, Verein für Socialpolitik, Research Committee Development Economics.
    10. Kirui, Oliver K., 2016. "Impact of land degradation on household poverty: evidence from a panel data simultaneous equation model," 2016 Fifth International Conference, September 23-26, 2016, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 246396, African Association of Agricultural Economists (AAAE).
    11. Jean-Pierre Lachaud, 2006. "La mesure de la croissance pro-pauvres en Afrique : espace de l’utilité ou des capacités ? Analyse comparative appliquée au Burkina Faso," Documents de travail 122, Groupe d'Economie du Développement de l'Université Montesquieu Bordeaux IV.
    12. Bhorat, Haroon & Naidoo, Karmen, 2017. "Income Inequality Trends in sub-Saharan Africa: Divergence, determinants and consequences: Drivers of Inequality in the Context of the Growth-Poverty-Inequality Nexus in Africa: An overview of key iss," UNDP Africa Reports 267643, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

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