Growth, Inequality, and Poverty: Looking beyond Averages

The evidence is compelling that the poor in developing countries typically do share in the gains from rising aggregate affluence, and in the losses from aggregate contraction. But how much do poor people share in growth? Do they gain more in some settings that others? Do some gain while others lose? Does pro-poor growth mean more or less growth in the aggregate? While recent theories and evidence are suggestive of some answers, there is a need for deeper micro empirical work on growth and distributional change. Only then will we have a firm basis for identifying the specific policies and programs that are needed to complement, and possibly modify, growth-oriented policies