Selected World Bank poverty studies : a summary of approaches, coverage, and findings

Since the establishment in 1987 of the Task Forces on Poverty and Food Security, a good deal of country economic and sector work has analyzed poverty issues. The author identifies the main policy issues it raises; describes how the Bank approaches the study of poverty issues; summarizes the main findings and lessons learned from the country economic and sector work reviewed; assesses the extent to which country economic and sector work has identified strategies, policy reforms, and programs to reduce poverty that could be supported by the Bank's policy or project lending; raises additional issues that could be addressed in future poverty-related country economic and sector work. This report reviews mainly cross-sectoral studies with a primary and direct poverty focus, which were completed between mid-1987 and mid-1989, though some work in progress was included.