The Disconcerting Pyramids of Poverty and Inequality of Sub-Saharan Africa

The Disconcerting Pyramids of Poverty and Inequality of Sub-Saharan Africa PDF Author: Mr.Paulo Silva Lopes
Publisher: INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND
ISBN: 9781451860665
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Poverty and inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) should not be ascertained only on the basis of scarce and unreliable income distribution statistics, but should also take into account social conditions. Recent, widely disseminated claims that poverty and inequality have increased over the past 30 years are based on regional income estimates with falling medians and rising upper variances over that period. Graphically, this translates into pyramid-shaped income distributions that, perversely, shift to the left and widen over time. However, during the same period social indicators improved significantly (if insufficiently), and we argue in this paper that such a trend represents progress with social equity in SSA. This point is illustrated through the configuration of alternative "social pyramids" that move for most of the last 30 years in the right direction. However, more recently, social indicators are being set back by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, which will generate greater and more dehumanizing poverty in the years ahead even if meaningful economic growth is achieved. As underscored by the multiplicity of "pyramid" representations, poverty and inequality time trends in SSA can thus best be described as disconcerting in that they remain arguably illusive and definitely disturbing.

The Disconcerting Pyramids of Poverty and Inequality of Sub-Saharan Africa

The Disconcerting Pyramids of Poverty and Inequality of Sub-Saharan Africa PDF Author: Mr.Paulo Silva Lopes
Publisher: INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND
ISBN: 9781451860665
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Poverty and inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) should not be ascertained only on the basis of scarce and unreliable income distribution statistics, but should also take into account social conditions. Recent, widely disseminated claims that poverty and inequality have increased over the past 30 years are based on regional income estimates with falling medians and rising upper variances over that period. Graphically, this translates into pyramid-shaped income distributions that, perversely, shift to the left and widen over time. However, during the same period social indicators improved significantly (if insufficiently), and we argue in this paper that such a trend represents progress with social equity in SSA. This point is illustrated through the configuration of alternative "social pyramids" that move for most of the last 30 years in the right direction. However, more recently, social indicators are being set back by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, which will generate greater and more dehumanizing poverty in the years ahead even if meaningful economic growth is achieved. As underscored by the multiplicity of "pyramid" representations, poverty and inequality time trends in SSA can thus best be described as disconcerting in that they remain arguably illusive and definitely disturbing.

The Disconcerting Pyramids of Poverty and Inequality of Sub-Saharan Africa

The Disconcerting Pyramids of Poverty and Inequality of Sub-Saharan Africa PDF Author: Paulo Silva Lopes
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Africa, Sub-Saharan
Languages : en
Pages : 30

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Book Description
Poverty and inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) should not be ascertained only on the basis of scarce and unreliable income distribution statistics, but should also take into account social conditions. Recent, widely disseminated claims that poverty and inequality have increased over the past 30 years are based on regional income estimates with falling medians and rising upper variances over that period. Graphically, this translates into pyramid-shaped income distributions that, perversely, shift to the left and widen over time. However, during the same period social indicators improved significantly (if insufficiently), and we argue in this paper that such a trend represents progress with social equity in SSA. This point is illustrated through the configuration of alternative "social pyramids" that move for most of the last 30 years in the right direction. However, more recently, social indicators are being set back by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, which will generate greater and more dehumanizing poverty in the years ahead even if meaningful economic growth is achieved. As underscored by the multiplicity of "pyramid" representations, poverty and inequality time trends in SSA can thus best be described as disconcerting in that they remain arguably illusive and definitely disturbing.

Handbook of African Development

Handbook of African Development PDF Author: Tony Binns
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1317495071
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 962

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Book Description
This handbook presents an extensive new overview of African development - past, present and future. It addresses key core themes and topics that are pertinent to the continent's development - including sections on history, health and food, politics, economics, rural and urban development, and development policy and practice. The volume draws on the expertise of over 60 of the world's leading scholars to provide a detailed and up-to-date analysis of the key opportunities and challenges that confront Africa, and how such issues are being addressed. Arranged by key themes, the handbook provides not only a historical understanding of the past, but also political perspectives on the future. The chapters provide critically informed analyses of their topics by drawing upon the latest conceptual viewpoints and applied experiences in Africa in the form of case studies to offer a comprehensive examination of the opportunities, challenges, key debates and future prospects. This handbook is an invaluable state-of-the-art overview and reference concerning many different aspects of Africa's development, which will be of interest to academics in all fields of African studies, and also academics and students working in cognate disciplines such as development studies, geography, history, politics and economics.

Regional Economic Outlook, April 2008, Sub-Saharan Africa

Regional Economic Outlook, April 2008, Sub-Saharan Africa PDF Author: International Monetary Fund. African Dept.
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1589067118
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 145

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Book Description
The region's prospects continue to be promising, but global developments pose increased risks to the outlook. Growth in sub-Saharan Africa should again average about 61⁄2 percent in 2008 with oil exporters leading the way; meanwhile, growth in oil importers is expected to taper off, though only modestly. With food and energy prices still rising, inflation is projected to average about 81⁄2 percent this year for countries in the region, setting aside Zimbabwe. Risks in 2008 are tilted to the downside, but the region is better placed today to withstand a worsening of the global environment.

Regional Economic Outlook, May 2005: Sub-Saharan Africa

Regional Economic Outlook, May 2005: Sub-Saharan Africa PDF Author: International Monetary Fund. African Dept.
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1451950292
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 97

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Book Description
The five Regional Economic Outlooks published biannually by the IMF cover Asia and Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Western Hemisphere. In each volume, recent economic developments and prospects for the region are discussed as a whole, as well as for specific countries. The reports include key data for countries in the region. Each report focuses on policy developments that have affected economic performance in the region, and discusses key challenges faced by policymakers. The near-term outlook, key risks, and their related policy challenges are analyzed throughout the reports, and current issues are explored, such as when and how to withdraw public interventions in financial systems globally while maintaining a still-fragile economic recovery.These indispensable surveys are the product of comprehensive intradepartmental reviews of economic developments that draw primarily on information the IMF staff gathers through consultation with member countries.

Regional Economic Outlook, May 2006, Sub-Saharan Africa

Regional Economic Outlook, May 2006, Sub-Saharan Africa PDF Author: International Monetary Fund. African Dept.
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1589065263
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 132

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Book Description
Prepared by the Policy Wing of the IMF African Department, and published twice a year in English and French, Regional Economic Outlook: Sub-Saharan Africa analyzes economic performance and short-term prospects of the 44 countries covered by the Department. Topics examined in recent volumes include responses to exogenous shocks, growth performance and growth-enhancing policies, the effectiveness of regional trade arrangements, macroeconomic implications of scaled-up aid, financial sector development, and fiscal decentralization. Detailed country data, grouped by oil-exporting and -importing countries and by subregion, are provided in an appendix and a statistical appendix, and a list of relevant publications by the African Department is included.

Regional Economic Outlook, October 2007, Sub-Saharan African

Regional Economic Outlook, October 2007, Sub-Saharan African PDF Author: International Monetary Fund. African Dept.
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1589066707
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 84

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Book Description
The region's prospects look strong. Growth in sub-Saharan Africa should reach 6 percent in 2007 and 63⁄4 percent in 2008. The economic expansion is strongest in oil exporters but cuts across all country groups. This would extend a period of very good performance. In recent years, sub-Saharan Africa has been experiencing its strongest growth and lowest inflation in over 30 years.

Regional Economic Outlook, October 2008, Sub-Saharan Africa

Regional Economic Outlook, October 2008, Sub-Saharan Africa PDF Author: International Monetary Fund. African Dept.
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1589067630
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 99

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Book Description
Sub-Saharan Africa's prospects have deteriorated somewhat and the risks have increased, according to this report. Growth in the region is projected to dip to 6 percent in 2008 and 2009. The fall is due mainly to the global food and fuel price shock, which has weighed particularly on growth in oil-importing countries, and to the global financial market turmoil, which has slowed global growth and demand for Africa's exports. Inflation is expected to rise to 12 percent in 2008, mainly on account of the food and fuel price shock. As a result of rising prices, particularly of food, poverty may well be on the increase in 2008. In 2009, inflation should ease to 10 percent, helped by recent commodity price declines. There are significant risks to the outlook related to a potentially deeper and longer period of global financial turmoil and resulting slowdown in global activity, and substantial uncertainty concerning commodity prices.

Reinventing the Left in the Global South

Reinventing the Left in the Global South PDF Author: Richard Sandbrook
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1107072786
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 313

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Book Description
A fresh appraisal of the nature and significance of the democratic left in the Global South.

Regional Economic Outlook, April 2009, Sub-Sarahan Africa

Regional Economic Outlook, April 2009, Sub-Sarahan Africa PDF Author: International Monetary Fund. African Dept.
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1589068386
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 108

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Book Description
Prepared by the IMF African Department, and published twice a year in English and French, Regional Economic Outlook: Sub-Saharan Africa analyzes the macroeconomic performance and short-term prospects of sub-Saharan Africa and provides and in-depth analysis of selected topics. The April 2009 Outlook includes two chapters: one on the macroeconomic impact of the global financial crisis on sub-Saharan Africa, and the other on the impact of the crisis on financial systems in the region. Detailed country data are provided in a statistical appendix.