This povert y update finds thefollowing: Between 1997 and 2000, poverty has increasedunambiguously, for a full set of poverty lines anddefinitions of poverty measures. Poverty has increasedbecause over the period, consumption fell and inequalityrose. Living standards have not risen despite growth inGross Domestic Product because growth was too weak, tooconcentrated in a narrow set of sectors, and there were noeffective mechanisms to redistribute its benefits. The1998-99 crisis hit those who were benefiting from the periodof growth--the self-employed and private sector workers. Butthe worse impact of the crisis was on the most vulnerable,and particularly on children. the depth and severity ofpoverty have increased, and the most socially vulnerablehave become poorer and more deprived. it is not clear whatthe government did to prevent the worsening of poverty; onthe one hand, the government created adequate foundationsfor a market economy, enabling private sector growth, and onthe other hand, the government did very litle to help thepoor directly and in some key respects the situation wasmade worse by allowing the accumulation of arrears onpensions, salaries for teachers, and other socialexpenditures. The report further examines why governmentperformance in implementing anti-poverty measures wasinadequate; the signs that the situation is changing; keychallenges for poverty reduction; and identifies prioritiesthe government must address.
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