Pakistan Poverty Trends, Scenarios and Drivers

This policy paper examines recent poverty trends in Pakistan. Official statistics continue to indicate strong poverty reduction through 2010-11, thanks in large part to policies and investments that boosted productivity in the non-agricultural sec...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Lopez-Calix, Jose, Mejia, Carolina, Newhouse, David, Sobrado, Carlos
Format: Working Paper
Language:English
en_US
Published: World Bank, Washington, DC 2014
Subjects:
Online Access:http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2014/06/20326804/pakistan-poverty-trends-scenarios-drivers
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/20793
id okr-10986-20793
recordtype oai_dc
repository_type Digital Repository
institution_category Foreign Institution
institution Digital Repositories
building World Bank Open Knowledge Repository
collection World Bank
language English
en_US
topic ACCESS TO EDUCATION
ACCESS TO ELECTRICITY
ACCESS TO INFRASTRUCTURE
ACCESS TO SERVICES
ACCOUNTING
AGRICULTURAL EMPLOYMENT
AGRICULTURAL SECTOR
AGRICULTURAL WORKERS
ANNUAL CHANGE
ANNUAL GROWTH
AVERAGE GROWTH
BANK POLICY
BENEFICIARIES
BENEFICIARY
BENEFICIARY HOUSEHOLDS
CASH TRANSFER
CASH TRANSFERS
CONFLICT
CONSUMER DURABLES
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX
CONSUMPTION DATA
CONSUMPTION GROWTH
CURRENT POVERTY
DATA QUALITY
DECLINE IN POVERTY
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DEVELOPING WORLD
DEVELOPMENT GOALS
DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS
DEVELOPMENT POLICY
DISBURSEMENT
DISTRIBUTIONAL CHANGES
DRIVERS OF POVERTY REDUCTION
DURABLE
DURABLE GOODS
ECONOMIC GROWTH
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
EMPLOYMENT IN AGRICULTURE
EQUAL ACCESS
EQUITABLE ACCESS
EXPENDITURE
EXPENDITURES
FARM EMPLOYMENT
FARM PRODUCTIVITY
FARM SECTOR
FISCAL POLICY
FOOD CONSUMPTION
FOOD PRICE
FOOD PRICES
FOOD SHARE
GINI COEFFICIENT
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT
GROWTH RATE
GROWTH RATES
HEADCOUNT POVERTY
HEADCOUNT RATIO
HIGH GROWTH
HOMEOWNERSHIP
HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION
HOUSEHOLD SIZE
HOUSEHOLD SURVEY
HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS
HUMAN CAPITAL
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
IMMUNIZATION
IMPACT ON POVERTY
INCIDENCE OF POVERTY
INCOME
INCOME DISTRIBUTION
INCOME SUPPORT
INCREASE POVERTY
INEQUALITY
INFLATION
INFLATION RATES
INSURANCE
INTERNATIONAL BANK
INTERNATIONAL POVERTY LINE
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS
INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTS
LABOR FORCE
LABOR MARKET
LABOR TRANSFERS
LEVY
LIFE INSURANCE
LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES
LIVING STANDARD
LIVING STANDARDS
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
MEASURING POVERTY
MICRO-DATA
NATIONAL POVERTY
NATIONAL POVERTY LINE
NATIONAL POVERTY RATE
NATURAL DISASTERS
NON-POOR HOUSEHOLDS
PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION
POLICY OPTIONS
POLICY RESEARCH
POOR
POOR HOUSEHOLDS
POOR PEOPLE
POVERTY ESTIMATES
POVERTY HEADCOUNT RATE
POVERTY HEADCOUNT RATES
POVERTY INCIDENCE
POVERTY INCREASE
POVERTY INCREASES
POVERTY LEVEL
POVERTY LEVELS
POVERTY LINE
POVERTY LINES
POVERTY MEASUREMENT
POVERTY POVERTY
POVERTY RATES
POVERTY REDUCTION
POVERTY STATUS
PRIMARY EDUCATION
PRIVATE TRANSFERS
PRO-POOR
PURCHASING POWER
RAPID GROWTH
REDUCED POVERTY
REDUCING POVERTY
REDUCTION IN POVERTY
REGIONAL STANDARDS
REMITTANCES
RETURNS
RURAL
RURAL AREAS
RURAL HOUSEHOLDS
RURAL POVERTY
SANITATION
SAVINGS
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
SECURITIES
SOCIAL ASSISTANCE
SOCIAL PROGRAMS
STRUCTURAL TRANSFORMATION
TARGETING
TRANSFER AMOUNTS
VULNERABILITY TO POVERTY
VULNERABLE HOUSEHOLDS
WELFARE INDICATORS
ZAKAT
spellingShingle ACCESS TO EDUCATION
ACCESS TO ELECTRICITY
ACCESS TO INFRASTRUCTURE
ACCESS TO SERVICES
ACCOUNTING
AGRICULTURAL EMPLOYMENT
AGRICULTURAL SECTOR
AGRICULTURAL WORKERS
ANNUAL CHANGE
ANNUAL GROWTH
AVERAGE GROWTH
BANK POLICY
BENEFICIARIES
BENEFICIARY
BENEFICIARY HOUSEHOLDS
CASH TRANSFER
CASH TRANSFERS
CONFLICT
CONSUMER DURABLES
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX
CONSUMPTION DATA
CONSUMPTION GROWTH
CURRENT POVERTY
DATA QUALITY
DECLINE IN POVERTY
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DEVELOPING WORLD
DEVELOPMENT GOALS
DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS
DEVELOPMENT POLICY
DISBURSEMENT
DISTRIBUTIONAL CHANGES
DRIVERS OF POVERTY REDUCTION
DURABLE
DURABLE GOODS
ECONOMIC GROWTH
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
EMPLOYMENT IN AGRICULTURE
EQUAL ACCESS
EQUITABLE ACCESS
EXPENDITURE
EXPENDITURES
FARM EMPLOYMENT
FARM PRODUCTIVITY
FARM SECTOR
FISCAL POLICY
FOOD CONSUMPTION
FOOD PRICE
FOOD PRICES
FOOD SHARE
GINI COEFFICIENT
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT
GROWTH RATE
GROWTH RATES
HEADCOUNT POVERTY
HEADCOUNT RATIO
HIGH GROWTH
HOMEOWNERSHIP
HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION
HOUSEHOLD SIZE
HOUSEHOLD SURVEY
HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS
HUMAN CAPITAL
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
IMMUNIZATION
IMPACT ON POVERTY
INCIDENCE OF POVERTY
INCOME
INCOME DISTRIBUTION
INCOME SUPPORT
INCREASE POVERTY
INEQUALITY
INFLATION
INFLATION RATES
INSURANCE
INTERNATIONAL BANK
INTERNATIONAL POVERTY LINE
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS
INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTS
LABOR FORCE
LABOR MARKET
LABOR TRANSFERS
LEVY
LIFE INSURANCE
LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES
LIVING STANDARD
LIVING STANDARDS
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
MEASURING POVERTY
MICRO-DATA
NATIONAL POVERTY
NATIONAL POVERTY LINE
NATIONAL POVERTY RATE
NATURAL DISASTERS
NON-POOR HOUSEHOLDS
PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION
POLICY OPTIONS
POLICY RESEARCH
POOR
POOR HOUSEHOLDS
POOR PEOPLE
POVERTY ESTIMATES
POVERTY HEADCOUNT RATE
POVERTY HEADCOUNT RATES
POVERTY INCIDENCE
POVERTY INCREASE
POVERTY INCREASES
POVERTY LEVEL
POVERTY LEVELS
POVERTY LINE
POVERTY LINES
POVERTY MEASUREMENT
POVERTY POVERTY
POVERTY RATES
POVERTY REDUCTION
POVERTY STATUS
PRIMARY EDUCATION
PRIVATE TRANSFERS
PRO-POOR
PURCHASING POWER
RAPID GROWTH
REDUCED POVERTY
REDUCING POVERTY
REDUCTION IN POVERTY
REGIONAL STANDARDS
REMITTANCES
RETURNS
RURAL
RURAL AREAS
RURAL HOUSEHOLDS
RURAL POVERTY
SANITATION
SAVINGS
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
SECURITIES
SOCIAL ASSISTANCE
SOCIAL PROGRAMS
STRUCTURAL TRANSFORMATION
TARGETING
TRANSFER AMOUNTS
VULNERABILITY TO POVERTY
VULNERABLE HOUSEHOLDS
WELFARE INDICATORS
ZAKAT
Lopez-Calix, Jose
Mejia, Carolina
Newhouse, David
Sobrado, Carlos
Pakistan Poverty Trends, Scenarios and Drivers
geographic_facet South Asia
Pakistan
relation World Bank Policy Paper Series on Pakistan;PK 23/12
description This policy paper examines recent poverty trends in Pakistan. Official statistics continue to indicate strong poverty reduction through 2010-11, thanks in large part to policies and investments that boosted productivity in the non-agricultural sector. Poverty fell a bit more than other countries with similar rates of growth, as growth was slightly pro-poor and also benefited the bottom 40 percent. Alternative indicators such as access to public services have also improved, though at a slower rate since 2008 the year of twin global and domestic crises that hardly hit Pakistan. While increased productivity among non-agricultural workers has been a key factor driving poverty reduction, cash transfers through the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) and workers' remittances from abroad also made moderate contributions. Simulations suggest that higher growth rates would further accelerate poverty reduction, but would have smaller effects on attaining other Millennium Development Goals. Despite this progress on poverty reductions, a major concern is that large numbers of people still remain concentrated just above the poverty line, thus remaining vulnerable to even small shocks, like natural disasters. Furthermore, the Pakistani economy has failed to create enough salaried and non-agricultural jobs, and female labor force participation remains unusually low by regional and worldwide standards. BISP cash transfers have helped reduce poverty and are well-targeted, but their coverage still is small; while remittances accrue mainly to non-poor households. If Pakistan can address these remaining constraints and also achieve more rapid growth, in particular with less frequent load-shedding and high levels of investment in human capital, the labor market has the potential to absorb new workers and further accelerate the improvement in living standards for the poor and near-poor.
format Publications & Research :: Working Paper
author Lopez-Calix, Jose
Mejia, Carolina
Newhouse, David
Sobrado, Carlos
author_facet Lopez-Calix, Jose
Mejia, Carolina
Newhouse, David
Sobrado, Carlos
author_sort Lopez-Calix, Jose
title Pakistan Poverty Trends, Scenarios and Drivers
title_short Pakistan Poverty Trends, Scenarios and Drivers
title_full Pakistan Poverty Trends, Scenarios and Drivers
title_fullStr Pakistan Poverty Trends, Scenarios and Drivers
title_full_unstemmed Pakistan Poverty Trends, Scenarios and Drivers
title_sort pakistan poverty trends, scenarios and drivers
publisher World Bank, Washington, DC
publishDate 2014
url http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2014/06/20326804/pakistan-poverty-trends-scenarios-drivers
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/20793
_version_ 1764447075901112320
spelling okr-10986-207932021-04-23T14:03:59Z Pakistan Poverty Trends, Scenarios and Drivers Lopez-Calix, Jose Mejia, Carolina Newhouse, David Sobrado, Carlos ACCESS TO EDUCATION ACCESS TO ELECTRICITY ACCESS TO INFRASTRUCTURE ACCESS TO SERVICES ACCOUNTING AGRICULTURAL EMPLOYMENT AGRICULTURAL SECTOR AGRICULTURAL WORKERS ANNUAL CHANGE ANNUAL GROWTH AVERAGE GROWTH BANK POLICY BENEFICIARIES BENEFICIARY BENEFICIARY HOUSEHOLDS CASH TRANSFER CASH TRANSFERS CONFLICT CONSUMER DURABLES CONSUMER PRICE INDEX CONSUMPTION DATA CONSUMPTION GROWTH CURRENT POVERTY DATA QUALITY DECLINE IN POVERTY DEVELOPING COUNTRIES DEVELOPING WORLD DEVELOPMENT GOALS DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS DEVELOPMENT POLICY DISBURSEMENT DISTRIBUTIONAL CHANGES DRIVERS OF POVERTY REDUCTION DURABLE DURABLE GOODS ECONOMIC GROWTH EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT EMPLOYMENT IN AGRICULTURE EQUAL ACCESS EQUITABLE ACCESS EXPENDITURE EXPENDITURES FARM EMPLOYMENT FARM PRODUCTIVITY FARM SECTOR FISCAL POLICY FOOD CONSUMPTION FOOD PRICE FOOD PRICES FOOD SHARE GINI COEFFICIENT GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT GROWTH RATE GROWTH RATES HEADCOUNT POVERTY HEADCOUNT RATIO HIGH GROWTH HOMEOWNERSHIP HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION HOUSEHOLD SIZE HOUSEHOLD SURVEY HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS HUMAN CAPITAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT IMMUNIZATION IMPACT ON POVERTY INCIDENCE OF POVERTY INCOME INCOME DISTRIBUTION INCOME SUPPORT INCREASE POVERTY INEQUALITY INFLATION INFLATION RATES INSURANCE INTERNATIONAL BANK INTERNATIONAL POVERTY LINE INTERNATIONAL STANDARD INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTS LABOR FORCE LABOR MARKET LABOR TRANSFERS LEVY LIFE INSURANCE LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES LIVING STANDARD LIVING STANDARDS LOCAL GOVERNMENT MEASURING POVERTY MICRO-DATA NATIONAL POVERTY NATIONAL POVERTY LINE NATIONAL POVERTY RATE NATURAL DISASTERS NON-POOR HOUSEHOLDS PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION POLICY OPTIONS POLICY RESEARCH POOR POOR HOUSEHOLDS POOR PEOPLE POVERTY ESTIMATES POVERTY HEADCOUNT RATE POVERTY HEADCOUNT RATES POVERTY INCIDENCE POVERTY INCREASE POVERTY INCREASES POVERTY LEVEL POVERTY LEVELS POVERTY LINE POVERTY LINES POVERTY MEASUREMENT POVERTY POVERTY POVERTY RATES POVERTY REDUCTION POVERTY STATUS PRIMARY EDUCATION PRIVATE TRANSFERS PRO-POOR PURCHASING POWER RAPID GROWTH REDUCED POVERTY REDUCING POVERTY REDUCTION IN POVERTY REGIONAL STANDARDS REMITTANCES RETURNS RURAL RURAL AREAS RURAL HOUSEHOLDS RURAL POVERTY SANITATION SAVINGS SCHOOL ATTENDANCE SECURITIES SOCIAL ASSISTANCE SOCIAL PROGRAMS STRUCTURAL TRANSFORMATION TARGETING TRANSFER AMOUNTS VULNERABILITY TO POVERTY VULNERABLE HOUSEHOLDS WELFARE INDICATORS ZAKAT This policy paper examines recent poverty trends in Pakistan. Official statistics continue to indicate strong poverty reduction through 2010-11, thanks in large part to policies and investments that boosted productivity in the non-agricultural sector. Poverty fell a bit more than other countries with similar rates of growth, as growth was slightly pro-poor and also benefited the bottom 40 percent. Alternative indicators such as access to public services have also improved, though at a slower rate since 2008 the year of twin global and domestic crises that hardly hit Pakistan. While increased productivity among non-agricultural workers has been a key factor driving poverty reduction, cash transfers through the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) and workers' remittances from abroad also made moderate contributions. Simulations suggest that higher growth rates would further accelerate poverty reduction, but would have smaller effects on attaining other Millennium Development Goals. Despite this progress on poverty reductions, a major concern is that large numbers of people still remain concentrated just above the poverty line, thus remaining vulnerable to even small shocks, like natural disasters. Furthermore, the Pakistani economy has failed to create enough salaried and non-agricultural jobs, and female labor force participation remains unusually low by regional and worldwide standards. BISP cash transfers have helped reduce poverty and are well-targeted, but their coverage still is small; while remittances accrue mainly to non-poor households. If Pakistan can address these remaining constraints and also achieve more rapid growth, in particular with less frequent load-shedding and high levels of investment in human capital, the labor market has the potential to absorb new workers and further accelerate the improvement in living standards for the poor and near-poor. 2014-12-18T19:52:48Z 2014-12-18T19:52:48Z 2014-06-05 http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2014/06/20326804/pakistan-poverty-trends-scenarios-drivers http://hdl.handle.net/10986/20793 English en_US World Bank Policy Paper Series on Pakistan;PK 23/12 CC BY 3.0 IGO http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/ World Bank, Washington, DC Publications & Research :: Working Paper Publications & Research South Asia Pakistan