The Nexus Of Economic Growth Employment And Poverty During Economic Transition

"A study prepared by the United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER)."

The increasing inequality and poverty that seem inevitably to accompany economic growth in developing countries have become more and more evident in recent years. The search for development paths that lead to growth with equality—all too difficult to find—is now an area of central concern for development economists. One result of their concern is this volume, in which internationally known representatives of a range of disciplines address themselves to ways in which growth with equity might be successfully achieved. The book begins with both empirical and theoretical background to the development issues involved, and with an overview of the experience of the international development assistance community. focuses on operational definitions of the poor that will permit analytical, policy-oriented research to lead to useful conclusions. Specific concern is expressed for small-business owners, women, peasants, and recent migrants from rural to urban areas. The basic question, of course, is what can be done about poverty and inequality. includes suggestions for specific measures and provides a comprehensive comparison across a wide range of policy options. The book does not solve the problem, but it does point to directions that promise a reasonably high probability of success. And throughout, suggestions are made for the kind of interdisciplinary research required to raise that probability even further.

This work examines the links between economic growth, changing employment conditions, and the reduction of poverty in Latin America in the 2000s.

While it has become abundantly clear that neither overall economic growth nor targeted microlevel interventions inevitably reduce poverty in developing countries, much of the development literature continues to focus on these two approaches. Exploring a third, and more promising, avenue, Fighting Poverty offers a systematic analysis of the link between employment and pro-poor economic growth.The authors provide both conceptual frameworks and rich empirical evidence to demonstrate precisely how employment can serve to link growth with poverty reduction. They include in-depth case studies of Bangladesh, Bolivia, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Uganda, and Vietnam.Rizwanul Islam is director of the Employment Strategy Department of the International Labour Organization.Contents: Introduction?R. Islam. Exploring the Employment Nexus: The Analytics of Pro-Poor Growth?S.R. Osmani. The Nexus of Economic Growth, Employment, and Poverty Reduction: An Empirical Analysis?R. Islam. Employment Policies for Poverty Reduction?A. Rahman. Bangladesh: Linkages Between Economic Growth, Employment, and Poverty?R.I. Rahman and M.N. Islam. Bolivia: Employment-Poverty Linkages and Policies?L.C. Jemio and M. del Carmen Choque. Ethiopia: Growth, Employment, Poverty, and Policies?M. Demeke, F. Guta, and T. Ferede. India: Employment-Poverty Linkages and Policy Options?K. Sundaram and S.D. Tendulkar. Indonesia: Poverty, Employment, and Wages?I. Islam. Uganda: Economic Growth, Employment, Poverty, and Pro-Poor Policies?K.I.B. Kabananukye, A.E.K. Kabananukye, J. Krishnamurty, and D. Owomugasho. Vietnam: Employment Poverty Linkages and Policies for Pro-Poor Growth?Pham Lan Huong, Bui Quang Tuan, and Dinh Hien Minh. Conclusion?R. Islam.

How private firms contribute to economic mobility and poverty reduction and what governments can do to enhance their contributions is the theme of this book. The positive role (often underemphasized) the private sector plays in economic development is looked at. Also the labour market and how various mechanisms in the economy interact to affect conditions for people as workers and as consumers. The links among the business environment, private sector development, economic growth, poverty reduction and economic mobility are also examined.