Graduate Program
Economics
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Semester of Degree Completion
2006
Thesis Director
Mukti Upadhyay
Thesis Committee Member
Eric Hake
Thesis Committee Member
Hui Li
Abstract
The most important development endeavor is to reduce poverty. There has been an ongoing debate on the actual contribution of growth to poverty reduction. In addition, a related question frequently raised is whether the main focus of development strategies should be placed on growth, or poverty reduction with or without a change in inequality. Without doubt, faster economic growth is associated with faster poverty reduction, given other factors affecting poverty. But an interesting policy implication can be drawn by answering the question of how responsive is poverty for a given level of economic growth or a given change in inequality. In other words, what are the growth and inequality elasticity of poverty? In effect, the prevailing magnitudes of growth elasticity and inequality elasticity of poverty may help in choosing a right strategy from among various poverty reduction strategies.
Recommended Citation
Fanta, Fassil N., "Economic growth, inequality and poverty in Africa" (2006). Masters Theses. 806.
https://thekeep.eiu.edu/theses/806
