The majority of old people in developing countries are uninsured by formal social security programs. This paper argues that economic growth is the key to increased coverage. Contributory old age insurance programs (or formal programs more generally) may not be desirable or feasible for large...

The shift toward social security systems with a tighter link between benefits and contributions will make such systems more fiscally sustainable. But to protect the uninsured and underinsured, such programs should be complemented by better social assistance programs for low-income groups. Most...

In Asia inequality in income between countries is more important than inequality within countries. In Africa, Latin America, and western Europe and North America, by contrast, there are only small differences between countries; inequality within countries is more important. And when countries...

Higher levels of the state can catalyze the development effectiveness of local administrations and communities, forming alliances with them and improving development outcomes while also gaining legitimacy and popular support. With creative political thinking it is possible to effect rapid change...

Despite the development community's shift in emphasis toward the poor, malnutrition, like other dimensions of poor health, is concentrated among the worst off. Yet targets are still defined in terms of population averages. Consider, then, this information about malnutrition rates among different...