The Debate on Globalization, Poverty, and Inequality : Why Measurement Matters

Ravallion, Martin

World Bank, Washington, DC

关键词: GLOBALIZATION;    POVERTY ISSUES;    GENDER INEQUALITY;    METHODOLOGY;    POVERTY;   

DOI  :  10.1596/1813-9450-3038
RP-ID  :  WPS3038

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

In the last year or so, markedlydifferent claims have been heard within the developmentcommunity about just how much progress is being made againstpoverty and inequality in the current period of"globalization." Ravallion provides a nontechnicaloverview of the conceptual and methodological issuesunderlying these conflicting claims. He argues that thedramatically differing positions taken in this debate oftenstem from differences in the concepts and definitions usedand differences in data sources and measurement assumptions.These differences are often hidden from view in the debate,but they need to be considered carefully if one is toproperly interpret the evidence. The author argues that thebest available evidence suggests that if the rate ofprogress against absolute poverty in the developing world inthe 1990s is maintained, then the Millennium DevelopmentGoal of halving the 1990 aggregate poverty rate by 2015 willbe achieved on time in the aggregate, though not in allregions. He concludes with some observations on theimplications for the more policy-oriented debates onglobalization and pro-poor growth.