Many people have questioned whether the world's poor share in economic growth. This note synthesizes the empirical evidence. The data show that economic growth typically reduces poverty and can usually be deemed pro-poor. But there is wide divergence across countries. In some cases the poor have...

This economic policy note examines the disparity in per capita incomes of both backward and advanced regions in developing countries, and explores a number of possible causes and policy intervention to bring about equalization (convergence). Among the causal factors discussed are transportation...