Search

Begin New Search Topic Poverty

411. A Business Case for Fighting Poverty

Publication Date:
05-2009
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:
Even in hard times, it can make commercial sense for companies to develop markets that include poor people, and business models that address poverty. Businesses that create decent jobs, access to markets or goods and services that benefit low-income groups in emerging economies help to build healthier, wealthier, and more highly skilled communities. Those communities will provide the customers, suppliers, and employees that companies need for sustainable growth.
Topic:
Development, Economics, Markets, Poverty, and Non State Actors

412. Making Pooled Funding Work for People in Crisis

Author:
Tanja Schuemer-Cross
Publication Date:
05-2009
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:
International humanitarian aid provides relief to tens of millions of people each year: in 2007 to more than 43 million people through UN humanitarian appeals alone. However, it is also often too little, too late, and unpredictable, or inappropriate to the needs of communities, including specific groups such as women and girls. The UN-led reforms since 2005 to improve humanitarian aid have begun - but only begun - to make a difference to this variable performance.
Topic:
Development, Humanitarian Aid, Poverty, Third World, and Foreign Aid

413. What Is Poverty Reduction?

Author:
Owen Barder
Publication Date:
04-2009
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Center for Global Development
Abstract:
There is a healthy debate about how to achieve poverty reduction in developing countries, but not enough discussion of what we mean by “poverty reduction.” “Poverty reduction” is often used as a short-hand for promoting economic growth that will permanently lift as many people as possible over a poverty line. But there are many different objectives that are consistent with “poverty reduction,” and we have to make choices between them. There are trade-offs between tackling current and future poverty, between helping as many poor people as possible and focusing on those in chronic poverty, and between measures that tackle the causes of poverty and those which deal with the symptoms. Because donors focus on just one dimension of poverty reduction (growth) they marginalise other legitimate objectives such as reducing chronic poverty or providing social services in countries that cannot otherwise afford them.
Topic:
Development, Environment, Humanitarian Aid, Poverty, Third World, and Foreign Aid

414. Economic Writing on the Pressing Problems of the Day: The Roles of Moral Intuition and Methodological Confusion

Author:
Julie A. Nelson
Publication Date:
04-2009
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Global Development and Environment Institute at Tufts University
Abstract:
Economists are often called on to help address pressing problems of the day, yet many economists are uncomfortable about disclosing the values that they bring to this work. This essay explores how an inadequate understanding of the role of methodology, as related to ethics and human emotions of concern, underlies this reluctance and compromises the quality of economic advice. The tension between caring about the problems, on the one hand, and writing within the existing culture of the discipline, on the other, are illustrated with examples from U.S. policymaking, behavioral economics, and the economics of climate change and global poverty. Potential steps towards a more responsible, "strongly objective," and policy-useful economics are discussed.
Topic:
Climate Change, Economics, Globalization, and Poverty
Political Geography:
United States

415. Delivering Education For All in Mali

Author:
Caroline Pearce, Sébastien Fourmy, and Hetty Kovach
Publication Date:
06-2009
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:
Mali is one of the poorest countries in the world. It has been democratic since 1991, and the international community considers it to have, overall, a well-performing government and economy. But this should not mask the huge scale of the challenges facing Mali in realising even the most basic rights of its citizens. This challenge is increased by the country's vulnerability to shocks, such as the food and fuel crises.
Topic:
Education and Poverty
Political Geography:
Africa and Mali

416. The Winds of Change: Climate change, poverty and the environment in Malawi

Author:
John Magrath and Elvis Sukali
Publication Date:
06-2009
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:
A wind of climate change is blowing through the southern African nation of Malawi, bringing confusion to fisherfolk and farmers alike.
Topic:
Climate Change, Gender Issues, and Poverty
Political Geography:
Africa and Malawi

417. Investing in Poor Farmers Pays: Rethinking how to invest in agriculture

Author:
Emily Alpert and Melinda Smale
Publication Date:
06-2009
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:
In July 2008, world food prices reached their highest peak since the early 1970s. Food stocked on grocery store shelves was out of reach. Riots ensued. Millions were afflicted. Another 100 million people were pushed into the ranks of the hungry, raising the total to nearly one billion worldwide. And these numbers could climb again as food prices remain high, and continue to rise in many local markets.
Topic:
Agriculture, Poverty, Foreign Aid, and Foreign Direct Investment
Political Geography:
Africa and Asia

418. Suffering the Science: Climate change, people, and poverty

Author:
Alex Renton
Publication Date:
07-2009
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:
Climate change is a reality and its effects are apparent right now. The scientific predictions are shifting continually – they almost always look bleaker. But Oxfam's experience in nearly 100 countries is definitive: hundreds of millions of people are already suffering damage from a rapidly changing climate, which is frustrating their efforts to escape poverty. This paper is the story of the 'affected'.
Topic:
Climate Change, Poverty, Natural Resources, Food, and Famine

419. Retos locales de la política social en México: el funcionamiento del Programa de Desarrollo Humano "Oportunidades" en una comunidad indígena bajo el sistema de gobierno de usos y costumbres

Author:
Carmen Ávila Jaquez and Mariana Gabarrot Arenas
Publication Date:
01-2009
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
CONfines de Relaciones Internacionales y Ciencia Política
Abstract:
Uno de los principales problemas que México tiene como nación es la pobreza. El gobierno federal ha hecho importantes intentos para reducirla mediante programas de ayuda social. El más significativo de ellos es el Programa de Desarrollo Humano “Oportunidades ” (en adelante, Oportunidades ). Dicho programa, cuya población-objetivo son las mujeres, está encaminado a mitigar la pobreza rural o semirural, ya que, en nuestro país, ser campesino equivale a ser pobre. Esto significa mantener una relación estrecha y directa con ser indígena. Aunque no todos los campesinos de este país pertenezcan a un grupo étnico, la mayoría de los indígenas trabajan en el campo. Oaxaca es el estado del país con más población indígena y uno de los que más rezagos presentan, a pesar de la inversión federal en programas sociales.
Topic:
Ethnic Conflict, Poverty, and Governance
Political Geography:
Latin America

420. Tackling climate change, reducing poverty

Publication Date:
01-2009
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:
Despite being a wealthy country, in the UK poverty is an ongoing problem. According to Oxfam GB today 1 in 5 people in the UK don't have enough to live on. There were 2.9 million children and 2.5 million pensioners living in poverty in the UK in 2006/2007. Children go to school hungry, or to bed without enough food. Poor communities are in poorer health and have shorter life expectancy.
Topic:
Climate Change, Energy Policy, Environment, Globalization, and Poverty
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe