While public education is often intended to be progressive in its effects on income distribution, in reality its incidence is often skewed toward the rich. This paper argues that the extent of this bias is directly related to institutional weaknesses in governance. We present a simple dynamic...

The paper provides an overview of recent economic and social developments in Cameroon. The state and the dynamics of poverty has been analyzed. The pillars of the short- and medium-term growth and poverty reduction strategy have been described. The paper provides a quantitative assessment and...

The Joint Staff Assessment (JSA) of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper Annual Progress Report on Ghana evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of poverty reduction objectives and strategies. The 2003 Annual Progress Report (APR) of the authorities’ poverty reduction strategy provides a...

This paper discusses the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper—National Development Plan for the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. The plan has been a participative process, involving constituents in every sector of the economy to identify the problems they face and to suggest solutions to...

This Selected Issues paper and Statistical Appendix analyzes recent trends in poverty and social indicators for Zimbabwe. It discusses land reform, agricultural policies, and the outcomes. The paper presents background information on the evolution of inflation and money aggregates in Zimbabwe....

This first annual review of the Malawi Poverty Reduction Strategy (MPRS) assesses progress toward the implementation of pro-poor activities with a focus on inputs and annual outputs. The review assessed that the allocation of resources in the MPRS is more comprehensive than in the budget. It...

This Joint Staff Advisory Note reviews the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper Progress Report for Niger. The lackluster economic performance in 2004 underscores Niger’s vulnerability to exogenous shocks. The progress report suggests that to firmly put the economy on a path of sustained and...

This paper on Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) on Kenya explains macroeconomic, structural, and social policies in support of growth and poverty reduction, as well as associated external financing needs and major sources of financing. The overall objective of macroeconomic policy is to...

This paper reviews Benin’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) for 2003–05. Benin’s PRSP represents, on the one hand, an overall strategy for combating poverty which, instead of focusing solely on economic growth or exclusively on social services, integrates all the...

This progress report presents key findings of the assessment of Nepal’s Tenth Plan—Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP). The report presents an overview of poverty in Nepal, the key elements of the Poverty Reduction Strategy and its linkages with the Millennium Development...