Poverty and Inequality

Catalog description

"Our dream: a world free of poverty", the motto of the World Bank, is of universal significance. What would it take to make this dream possible? We are all reminded everyday, in the news or otherwise, of the poverty that strikes a large part of the population in developing and emerging countries, often due to some natural disaster or conflict. We are also told of millions of people who are poor in so-called 'advanced' countries. Or is it a different kind of poverty? Poverty encompasses many other dimensions than a low level of monetary income, including the comparison of poor people with the rest of society, which comes under another key social concept, inequality. This course considers the measurements and definitions required to effectively fight poverty. We will evaluate the poverty and inequality trends, and their socio-demographic structure, in individual countries and in the world. We also reflect on the root causes of poverty at the individual, country, and global levels. Finally, the course focuses on available policy instruments in advanced and developing countries, and internationally, to lower poverty and inequality around the world.