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Growth and the poor: a comment on Dollar and Kraay

Author

Listed:
  • Malte Lübker

    (SOAS, University of London, London, UK)

  • Graham Smith

    (SOAS, University of London, London, UK)

  • John Weeks

    (SOAS, University of London, London, UK)

Abstract

In a recent paper Dollar and Kraay come to sweeping conclusions about economic growth and the poor. On the basis of empirical work they assert that standard World Bank and IMF policy packages are good for the poor. This paper demonstrates that (i) the empirical work is based on theoretically unsound equations; (ii) the data are seriously flawed; and (iii) the policy variables are not defined appropriately, nor are they tested in a consistent manner. These problems imply that the policy conclusions of the authors are unsafe. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Suggested Citation

  • Malte Lübker & Graham Smith & John Weeks, 2002. "Growth and the poor: a comment on Dollar and Kraay," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 14(5), pages 555-571.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:jintdv:v:14:y:2002:i:5:p:555-571
    DOI: 10.1002/jid.911
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    Cited by:

    1. Pushan Dutt & Devashish Mitra, 2008. "Inequality and the Instability of Polity and Policy," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 118(531), pages 1285-1314, August.
    2. Frederick Nixson, 2006. "Rethinking the political economy of development: back to basics and beyond," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 18(7), pages 967-981.
    3. Almås, Ingvild & Johnsen, Åshild Auglænd, 2012. "The cost of living in China: Implications for inequality and poverty," Discussion Paper Series in Economics 21/2012, Norwegian School of Economics, Department of Economics.
    4. Klaus Gründler & Niklas Potrafke & Timo Wochner, 2020. "Structural Reforms and Income Inequality: Who Benefits from Market-Oriented Reforms?," CESifo Working Paper Series 8042, CESifo.
    5. Eliseo Díaz González & Jorge Fabián Orozco Lalo, 2019. "Crecimiento pro pobre en México," Ensayos de Economía 18299, Universidad Nacional de Colombia Sede Medellín.
    6. Raymundo M. Campos-Vazquez & Emmanuel Chavez & Gerardo Esquivel, 2017. "Growth is (really) good for the (really) rich," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(12), pages 2639-2675, December.
    7. Malte Luebker, 2017. "Poverty, employment and inequality in the SDGs: heterodox discourse, orthodox policies?," Chapters, in: Peter A.G. van Bergeijk & Rolph van der Hoeven (ed.), Sustainable Development Goals and Income Inequality, chapter 8, pages 141-168, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    8. Hossein Jalilian & Colin Kirkpatrick, 2005. "Does Financial Development Contribute to Poverty Reduction?," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 41(4), pages 636-656.
    9. Parikh, Priti & Fu, Kun & Parikh, Himanshu & McRobie, Allan & George, Gerard, 2015. "Infrastructure Provision, Gender, and Poverty in Indian Slums," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 468-486.
    10. Bussmann, Margit, 2009. "The Effect of Trade Openness on Women's Welfare and Work Life," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 37(6), pages 1027-1038, June.
    11. Rolf J. Langhammer, 2004. "Halving Poverty by Doubling Aid: Is There Reason for Optimism?," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(1), pages 81-98, January.
    12. T.Huw Edwards, 2014. "Good times and bad times, with endogenous trade policy responses," Discussion Paper Series 2014_10, Department of Economics, Loughborough University, revised Oct 2014.
    13. Edwards, T. Huw, 2010. "Globalisation as a 'good times' phenomenon: A search-based explanation," Economics - The Open-Access, Open-Assessment E-Journal (2007-2020), Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel), vol. 4, pages 1-48.
    14. Richard A. Ashley., 2006. "Growth May Be Good for the Poor, But Decline is Disastrous: On the Non-Robustness of the Dollar-Kraay "Growth is Good for the Poor" Result," Working Papers e06-8, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Department of Economics.
    15. Ashley, Richard, 2008. "Growth may be good for the poor, but decline is disastrous: On the non-robustness of the Dollar-Kraay result," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 17(2), pages 333-338.
    16. Raymundo M. Campos Vázquez & Luis A. Monroy-Gómez-Franco, 2016. "La relación entre crecimiento económico y pobreza en México," Serie documentos de trabajo del Centro de Estudios Económicos 2016-01, El Colegio de México, Centro de Estudios Económicos.
    17. Ingvild Almas & Ashild Johnsen, 2018. "The cost of a growth miracle - reassessing price and poverty trends in China," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 30, pages 239-264, October.

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