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Poverty and Inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa: Literature Survey and Empirical Assessment

Author

Listed:
  • Delfin Go

    (Africa Department, the World Bank)

  • Denis Nikitin

    (Development Research Group, the World Bank)

  • Xiongjian Wang

    (CEMA, Central University)

  • Heng-fu Zou

    (CEMA, Central University
    IAS, Wuhan University
    Peking University
    Development Research Group, the World Bank)

Abstract

This paper surveys the literature and assesses the magnitude, persistence, and depth of poverty and inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa using empirical analysis. Our analysis explores linkages between three key facts about development in Sub-Saharan Africa: poor economic growth, poor performance in terms of public health indicators, and resilient high-income inequality. Most of the differential between growth rates in Sub-Saharan Africa and other developing countries can be explained by two measures of human capital-secondary enrolment and infant mortality. We also find that the growth trend in Sub-Saharan Africa does not significantly differ from other developing countries that have fallen into a poverty trap.

Suggested Citation

  • Delfin Go & Denis Nikitin & Xiongjian Wang & Heng-fu Zou, 2007. "Poverty and Inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa: Literature Survey and Empirical Assessment," Annals of Economics and Finance, Society for AEF, vol. 8(2), pages 251-304, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:cuf:journl:y:2007:v:8:i:2:p:251-304
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Luboš Smutka & Karel Tomšík, 2014. "GDP Structure and Economic Performance in Sub-Saharan Countries," Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, Mendel University Press, vol. 62(4), pages 729-747.
    2. Tomšík, K. & Smutka, L. & Lubanda, J.-P. E. & Rohn, H., 2015. "Position of Agriculture in Sub-Saharan GDP Structure and Economic Performance," AGRIS on-line Papers in Economics and Informatics, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Economics and Management, vol. 7(1), pages 1-12, March.
    3. Maria Sassi & Gopal Trital, 2022. "A latent growth curve modelling approach to seasonal and spatial dynamics of food security heterogeneities in rural Lake Naivasha Basin, Kenya," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 14(1), pages 111-125, February.
    4. Godfrey Madigu, 2014. "The influence of services on firm productivity in Sub-saharan Africa," NCID Working Papers 02/2014, Navarra Center for International Development, University of Navarra.
    5. Facundo Alvaredo & Leonardo Gasparini, 2013. "Recent Trends in Inequality and Poverty in Developing Countries," CEDLAS, Working Papers 0151, CEDLAS, Universidad Nacional de La Plata.
    6. Max Kohler & Stefan Sperlich & Jisu Yoon, 2019. "A Varying Coefficient Model for Assessing the Returns to Growth to Account for Poverty and Inequality," Papers 1903.02390, arXiv.org.
    7. Odhiambo, Nicholas M, 2021. "Tourism development and poverty alleviation in Sub-Saharan African countries: An empirical investigation," Working Papers 28930, University of South Africa, Department of Economics.
    8. Nicholas M. Odhiambo, "undated". "Tourism Development And Poverty Alleviation In Sub-Saharan African Countries: An Empirical Investigation," Working Papers AESRI09, African Economic and Social Research Institute (AESRI).
    9. Mr. Daouda Sembene, 2015. "Poverty, Growth, and Inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa: Did the Walk Match the Talk under the PRSP Approach?," IMF Working Papers 2015/122, International Monetary Fund.
    10. Choudhry Mohammad HANIF & Elsadig Musa AHMED, 2018. "Economic Development In Sub-Saharah Africa And Analysis Of Wagner`S Law, 2005-2015," Applied Econometrics and International Development, Euro-American Association of Economic Development, vol. 18(2), pages 101-116.
    11. Maria Sassi & Gopal Trital & Poushali Bhattacharjee, 2022. "Beyond the Annual and Aggregate Measurement of Household Inequality: The Case Study of Lake Naivasha Basin, Kenya," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 34(1), pages 387-408, February.
    12. Jude Ndzifon Kimengsi & Mukong Alfred Kechia & Balgah Roland Azibo & Jürgen Pretzsch & Jude Kwei, 2019. "Households’ Assets Dynamics and Ecotourism Choices in the Western Highlands of Cameroon," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-16, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Poverty; Inequality; African Economy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D41 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Perfect Competition

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