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On hunger and public action

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  • Ravallion, Martin

Abstract

This article is a commentary on a new book"Hunger and Public Action,"by authors Jean Dreze and Amartya Sen. The article compares the book's conceptual approach and policy recommendations to those of other recent writings on poverty and hunger. Researchers trying to understand the causes of a particular famine or to anticipate future famines have usually concentrated on information about aggregate food availability. A better approach is to focus on the determinants of individual entitlements - the command of people over food and other necessities. Ravallion critically assesses the book's conceptual framework, data, and the methods of analysis. He concludes that, despite some shortcomings in the book, the authors make a convincing case for a positive role for public action in famine relief and longer term relief of poverty and hunger.

Suggested Citation

  • Ravallion, Martin, 1991. "On hunger and public action," Policy Research Working Paper Series 680, The World Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:680
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bourguignon, Francois, 1991. "Optimal Poverty Reduction, Adjustment, and Growth," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 5(2), pages 315-338, May.
    2. Sen, Amartya, 1981. "Public Action and the Quality of Life in Developing Countries," Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, Department of Economics, University of Oxford, vol. 43(4), pages 287-319, November.
    3. Coate, Stephen, 1989. "Cash versus direct food relief," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 30(2), pages 199-224, April.
    4. Bhalla, Surjit S & Glewwe, Paul, 1986. "Growth and Equity in Developing Countries: A Reinterpretation of the Sri Lankan Experience," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 1(1), pages 35-63, September.
    5. Kasperson, Jeanne X. & Kates, Robert W., 1990. "Introduction: halving hunger," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 15(4), pages 274-276, August.
    6. Brown University faculty, 1990. "Overcoming hunger : Promising programmes and policies," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 15(4), pages 286-298, August.
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    1. Muhammad Qasim & Amatul Razzaq Chaudhary, 2015. "Determinants of Human Development Disparities: A Cross District Analysis of Punjab, Pakistan," The Pakistan Development Review, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, vol. 54(4), pages 427-446.
    2. James A. Roumasset, 1996. "Food Security & Stochastic Aspects of Poverty," Working Papers 199607, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Department of Economics.

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