Government and sub-national growth. Uneven growth within low-income countries: does it matter, and can governments do anything effective?

October 2005, Gareth Williams, Pierre Landell-Mills, Alex Duncan

  Download (0.4 MB)   

This paper discusses how governments in low income countries should respond to uneven patterns of growth and poverty reduction between different regions within the country. Evidence reviewed in this paper indicates that the spatial concentration of economic activity in and around cities is a major driver of growth and poverty reduction. However, this may often result in widening disparities between sub-national regions. The fundamental issue addressed by this paper is whether these disparities matter, and whether governments can do anything effective to address them.

Related projects:

• Governance and Sub-National Growth

• Growth, Sub-National Equity and Poverty Reduction Policies - A Five-Country Comparison

Related papers:

• Growing out of Spatial Poverty: Growth, Sub-National Equity and Poverty Reduction. A Five Country Comparison