The Idea of Antipoverty Policy

113 Pages Posted: 12 Jul 2013 Last revised: 29 Jun 2023

Date Written: July 2013

Abstract

How did we come to think that eliminating poverty is a legitimate goal for public policy? What types of policies have emerged in the hope of attaining that goal? The last 200 years have witnessed a dramatic change in thinking about poverty. Mainstream economic thinking in the 18th century held that poverty was necessary and even desirable for a country's economic success. Today, poverty is more often viewed as a constraint on that success. In short, poverty switched from being seen as a social good to a social bad. This change in thinking, and the accompanying progress in knowledge, has greatly influenced public action, with heightened emphasis on the role of antipoverty policy in sustainable promotion from poverty, as well as protection. Development strategies today typically strive for a virtuous cycle of growth with equity and a range of policy interventions have emerged that aim to help assure that outcome. An expanding body of knowledge has taught us about how effective those interventions are in specific settings, although many knowledge gaps remain.

Suggested Citation

Ravallion, Martin, The Idea of Antipoverty Policy (July 2013). NBER Working Paper No. w19210, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2292831

Martin Ravallion (Contact Author)

Georgetown University ( email )

Washington, DC 20057
United States

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