Growth and Poverty in Sub-Saharan AfricaChanning Arndt, Andy McKay, Finn Tarp While the economic growth renaissance in sub-Saharan Africa is widely recognized, much less is known about progress in living conditions. This book comprehensively evaluates trends in living conditions in 16 major sub-Saharan African countries, corresponding to nearly 75% of the total population. A striking diversity of experience emerges. While monetary indicators improved in many countries, others are yet to succeed in channeling the benefits of economic growth into the pockets of the poor. Some countries experienced little economic growth, and saw little material progress for the poor. At the same time, the large majority of countries have made impressive progress in key non-monetary indicators of wellbeing. Overall, the African growth renaissance earns two cheers, but not three. While gains in macroeconomic and political stability are real, they are also fragile. Growth on a per capita basis is much better than in the 1980s and 1990s, yet not rapid compared with other developing regions. Importantly from a pan-African perspective, key economies-particularly Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa-are not among the better performers. Looking forward, realistic expectations are required. The development process is, almost always, a long hard slog. Nevertheless, real and durable factors appear to be at play on the sub-continent with positive implications for growth and poverty reduction in future. |
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African aggregate agricultural analysis Antananarivo Arndt average Burkina Faso calculations Cameroon capita GDP cent changes in poverty compared consumption per capita consumption poverty Côte d'Ivoire datasets decade declined deflator deprived distribution domination economic growth Ethiopia expenditure Figure FOD comparisons food price GDP growth GDP per capita Ghana Gini coefficient growth and poverty Growth incidence growth rate household consumption household surveys improved incidence curves income increased INSD Kenya labour Lorenz curves Madagascar Malawi monetary poverty Mozambique national accounts Nigeria non-food non-poor overall pattern percentage points period Policy poor population poverty and inequality poverty estimates poverty headcount poverty line poverty measures poverty rates poverty reduction primary production Programme provinces real GDP regions relative reported Research rural areas Rwanda sector share Source Statistics South Africa substantial Table Tanzania tion trends Uganda urban areas welfare indicators World Bank Zambia