The paper addresses one of the key features and expectations of thePRGF: are budgets more pro-poor and pro-growth? Relying on abundant data gatheredfrom numerous countries, the authors show that indeed the composition of bothbudgeted and actual public spending is shifting towards...

The reform of fiscal policies and institutions lies at the heart of structural adjustment in developing countries. Although the immediate aim of such reform is to reduce fiscal imbalances to achieve macroeconomic stability, the long-term goal is to secure more durable improvements in fiscal...

This paper estimates the impact of public spending on the poor's health status in over 70 countries. It provides evidence that the poor have significantly worse health status than the rich and that they are more favorably affected by public spending on health care. An important new result is...