Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction in Sub-Saharan Africa

August 1, 2001

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Gary G. Moser, and Toshihiro Ichida. Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction in Sub-Saharan Africa, (USA: International Monetary Fund, 2001) accessed November 21, 2024

Disclaimer: This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF.The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate

Summary

This study confirms a strong and robust relationship between economic growth and poverty reduction in sub-Saharan Africa. Employing a panel of 46 countries covering the period 1972-97, the analysis finds that a 10 percent increase in per capita GDP leads to a 1 percent increase in life expectancy, a 3-4 percent decline in infant mortality rates, and a 3½-4 percent increase in the rate of gross primary school enrollment. The results are robust for high- and low-income, as well as fast- and slow-growth, countries. The study also finds that quality of growth, civil conflict, HIV/AIDs, civil and institutional freedom, and island economies are important control variables that help explain the variability of poverty across Africa. A country's latitude is not found to be a significant factor explaining life expectancy or infant mortality rates, though it is a significant factor explaining gross primary school enrollments.

Subject: Education, Health, National accounts, Personal income, Poverty, Poverty reduction

Keywords: Africa, East Africa, East Asia, Economic growth, Education, Growth, Health, Human Development, Income equation, Income level, Income poverty, Income-health relationship, Low income, Personal income, Poverty, Poverty indicator, Poverty reduction, Poverty study, Poverty trend, South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Trends in SSA, WP

Publication Details

Pages:

32
Volume:

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DOI:

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Issue:

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Series:

Working Paper No. 2001/112
Stock No:

WPIEA1122001
ISBN:

9781451853605
ISSN:

1018-5941

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