Targeted Poverty Alleviation and Pro-Poor Growth
Evidence from China’s Practice and Experience
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25071/1874-6322.40546Keywords:
Pro-poor growth, targeted poverty alleviation, Kakwani index, rural, ChinaAbstract
This article assesses the pro-poor growth effect in China’s rural populations
over the period 2007–2018 using the strict pro-poor index proposed by
Nanak Kakwani. The results show that while China’s rural areas did not
experience strictly defined pro-poor growth between 2007–2013, a
contemporary pro-poor effect was observed during which Targeted Poverty
Alleviation (TPA) policies were implemented. The conclusion is robust in
the dimensions of income and expenditure and non-income well-being.
Through a heterogeneity analysis, this article finds differences in pro-poor
growth among various groups. In particular, poor women, seniors, children,
and geographic areas (such as western China) benefited more during the
targeted poverty-alleviation policy period than their counterparts. Finally,
we use Kakwani’s shared prosperity index to show that China is actively
making more positive efforts and preparations towards attaining commonly
shared prosperity.
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