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Income mobility in the developing world: Recent approaches and evidence

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Abstract

This paper examines income mobility in developing countries. We start by synthesizing findings from the available evidence on relative mobility and poverty dynamics. We then describe evidence on economic mobility obtained via synthetic panels constructed from cross-section data. We echo earlier literature in pointing to substantial movement across income classes by households over time: poverty is not inevitably a chronic condition. However, less clear are the factors driving the observed 'churning'.

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  • Himanshu & Peter Lanjouw, 2020. "Income mobility in the developing world: Recent approaches and evidence," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2020-7, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2020-7
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    1. Tseday Jemaneh Mekasha & Finn Tarp, 2021. "Understanding poverty dynamics in Ethiopia: Implications for the likely impact of COVID‐19," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(4), pages 1838-1868, November.

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