Description
Book SynopsisWhile there is no denying that the world has made huge progress against absolute poverty over the last 200 years, until recent times the bulk of that progress had been made in wealthy countries only. The good news is that we have seen greater progress against poverty in the developing world in recent times-indeed, a faster pace of progress against extreme poverty than the rich world saw over a period of 100 years or more of economic development. However, continuing progress is far from assured. High and rising inequality has stalled progress against poverty in many countries. We are seeing generally rising relative poverty in the rich world as a whole over recent decades. And even in the developing world, there has been less progress in reaching the poorest, who risk being left behind, and a great many people in the emerging middle class remain highly vulnerable to falling back into poverty.The Economics of Poverty strives to support well-informed efforts to put in place effective policies to assure continuing success in reducing poverty in all its dimensions. The book reviews critically the past and present debates on the central policy issues of economic development everywhere. How much poverty is there? Why does poverty exist? What can be done to eliminate poverty? Martin Ravallion provides an accessible new synthesis of current knowledge on these issues. It does not assume that readers know economics already. Those new to economics get a lot of help along the way in understanding its concepts and methods. Economics lives though its relevance to real world problems, and here the problem of global poverty is both the central focus and a vehicle for learning.
Trade Review"Many economics students are motivated by the struggle for a better world. Here, at last, is the book for them. Building on extensive research, Ravallion asks: What can we learn about poverty from past thinkers? How should we measure poverty? What reduces it? Readers don't need prior knowledge of economics: this clear, rigorous text teaches the economic basics, not as a chore, but as part of learning what's wrong and how to put it right." -- Michael Lipton, Research Professor of Economics, University of Sussex "This book is a tour de force. Covering history of thought, analytical tools and policy issues, it provides an indispensable introduction to the economics of poverty. Martin Ravallion is a global leader in the field of poverty analysis. His book will prove to be of lasting value not only to students, but also to seasoned researchers and policy analysts." -- Ravi Kanbur, T.H. Lee Professor of World Affairs and Professor of Economics, Cornell University "This landmark book demonstrates clearly and convincingly the power of economic ideas and analysis in tackling the blight of global poverty and provides the perfect grounding-rigorous yet inspirational-for young scholars seeking to help the world's poorest." -- Lyn Squire, Director of the World Bank's 1990 World Development Report, Poverty "For the first time in history, we have the knowledge and tools to end extreme poverty. Dr. Ravallion's insightful and practical analysis provides a blueprint for the next generation of leaders to seize this opportunity and build vibrant, inclusive economies." -- Rajiv Shah, Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) "An indispensable reference for anyone interested in any aspect of the economics of poverty by the indisputable world expert in this area." -- François Bourguignon, Paris School of Economics
Table of ContentsPART 1: HISTORY OF THOUGHT ; Chapter 1: Origins of the Idea of a World Free of Poverty ; Chapter 2: New Thinking on Poverty after 1950 ; PART 2: MEASURES AND METHODS ; Chapter 3: Measuring Welfare ; Chapter 4: Poverty Lines ; Chapter 5: Poverty and Inequality Measures ; Chapter 6: Impact Evaluation ; PART 3: POVERTY AND POLICY ; Chapter 7: Dimensions of Poverty and Inequality in the World ; Chapter 8: Growth, Inequality and Poverty ; Chapter 9: Economy-Wide and Sectoral Policies ; Chapter 10: Targeted Interventions ; Conclusions: Past Progress and Future Challenges
