Poor and the Poorest: Some Interim Findings

摘要

The paper brings together information from four working papers on the characteristics of the poor and the poorest. The papers deal with nutrition; the control of and returns to labor, land, and physical and human capital; and demography. They contain extensive evidence and references. The paper is confined to the findings. The original findings were based on studies of about 30 villages in rainfed areas of western India and northern Nigeria, but macro- and micro-data from many developing areas were used for later modifications. The World Bank's projects and policies, like those of other donors and of governments in developing countries, have often benefited 'the poor', but have seldom reached the ultra-poor. Almost all of these people are in households in the bottom quintile of income per person in their country. They have so little income that they are at nutritional risk. Policy suggestions are left until the final section.