Confronting Poverty in Iraq: Main Findings

Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Social Science, Sociology
Cover of the book Confronting Poverty in Iraq: Main Findings by World Bank ; Iraq Poverty Reduction Strategy High Committee, World Bank
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: World Bank ; Iraq Poverty Reduction Strategy High Committee ISBN: 9780821385630
Publisher: World Bank Publication: January 6, 2011
Imprint: Language: English
Author: World Bank ; Iraq Poverty Reduction Strategy High Committee
ISBN: 9780821385630
Publisher: World Bank
Publication: January 6, 2011
Imprint:
Language: English
This report provides the most comprehensive and rigorous analysis of Iraqi income and expenditure in several decades. The report makes extensive use of the Iraq Household Socio-Economic Survey the first nationwide income and expenditure survey since 1988. IHSES data is complemented income and expenditure data from a wide range of other measures of living standards allowing us to analyze living standards in a holistic way. The analysis presented here was performed with two main goalsâ€first to inform the Government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy; and second to serve as a baseline for future assessments of changes in living standards and the identification of critical issues for deeper examination. Iraqi living standards have two unusual characteristics. First they have fallen over the past generation. Second they feature surprisingly little inequality. These characteristics are both rooted in Iraq’s recent history of authoritarian government war military occupation insurgency and civil strife leading to infrastructure destruction and population displacement. There have been few opportunities for individuals to prosper from professional or entrepreneurial activities. Decades of neglected investment have resulted in deterioration of social services and economic infrastructure. Consequently individuals have lacked capabilities to prosper and an investment climate conducive to prosperity. School enrollment and life expectancy have declined. Extremely low returns to education reflect the combination of poor educational quality and lack of employment opportunities. In terms of economic infrastructure access to reliable electricity and water and even access to paved roads are low are further reflections of decades of neglect. While the upper end of the distribution has been pulled down by a lack of opportunities the lower end has been supported by direct government provision of food. The Public Distribution System (PDS) provides 85 percent of food needs. While PDS has been useful as a safety net for the poor and the vulnerable the system is expensive inefficient and fiscally risky. Indeed PDS food rations account for a far greater share of public spending than does education or health. Going forward Iraq faces two main challenges. First although Iraq does not have to develop from scratch it faces a formidable challenge in re-development. Second a shift by the Government is requiredâ€from direct provision of basic subsistence toward investment in human capacities. The Government can provide an enabling environment through investments in economic infrastructure and services to business and citizens thus allowing the population to make productive use of education and their own labor. Both challenges are now being taken up by the Poverty Reduction Strategy which articulates a detailed set of required actions and outlines priorities for government spending.
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
This report provides the most comprehensive and rigorous analysis of Iraqi income and expenditure in several decades. The report makes extensive use of the Iraq Household Socio-Economic Survey the first nationwide income and expenditure survey since 1988. IHSES data is complemented income and expenditure data from a wide range of other measures of living standards allowing us to analyze living standards in a holistic way. The analysis presented here was performed with two main goalsâ€first to inform the Government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy; and second to serve as a baseline for future assessments of changes in living standards and the identification of critical issues for deeper examination. Iraqi living standards have two unusual characteristics. First they have fallen over the past generation. Second they feature surprisingly little inequality. These characteristics are both rooted in Iraq’s recent history of authoritarian government war military occupation insurgency and civil strife leading to infrastructure destruction and population displacement. There have been few opportunities for individuals to prosper from professional or entrepreneurial activities. Decades of neglected investment have resulted in deterioration of social services and economic infrastructure. Consequently individuals have lacked capabilities to prosper and an investment climate conducive to prosperity. School enrollment and life expectancy have declined. Extremely low returns to education reflect the combination of poor educational quality and lack of employment opportunities. In terms of economic infrastructure access to reliable electricity and water and even access to paved roads are low are further reflections of decades of neglect. While the upper end of the distribution has been pulled down by a lack of opportunities the lower end has been supported by direct government provision of food. The Public Distribution System (PDS) provides 85 percent of food needs. While PDS has been useful as a safety net for the poor and the vulnerable the system is expensive inefficient and fiscally risky. Indeed PDS food rations account for a far greater share of public spending than does education or health. Going forward Iraq faces two main challenges. First although Iraq does not have to develop from scratch it faces a formidable challenge in re-development. Second a shift by the Government is requiredâ€from direct provision of basic subsistence toward investment in human capacities. The Government can provide an enabling environment through investments in economic infrastructure and services to business and citizens thus allowing the population to make productive use of education and their own labor. Both challenges are now being taken up by the Poverty Reduction Strategy which articulates a detailed set of required actions and outlines priorities for government spending.

More books from World Bank

Cover of the book Equality For Women: Where Do We Stand? by World Bank ; Iraq Poverty Reduction Strategy High Committee
Cover of the book Public Finance In China: Reform And Growth For A Harmonious Society by World Bank ; Iraq Poverty Reduction Strategy High Committee
Cover of the book Regulatory Assessment Toolkit by World Bank ; Iraq Poverty Reduction Strategy High Committee
Cover of the book Regenerating Urban Land by World Bank ; Iraq Poverty Reduction Strategy High Committee
Cover of the book Disease Control Priorities, Third Edition (Volume 2) by World Bank ; Iraq Poverty Reduction Strategy High Committee
Cover of the book Measuring the Real Size of the World Economy by World Bank ; Iraq Poverty Reduction Strategy High Committee
Cover of the book Structural Transformation and Rural Change Revisited: Challenges for Late Developing Countries in a Globalizing World by World Bank ; Iraq Poverty Reduction Strategy High Committee
Cover of the book Global Economic Prospects, January 2018 by World Bank ; Iraq Poverty Reduction Strategy High Committee
Cover of the book Urban Risk Assessments: An Approach for Understanding Disaster and Climate Risk in Cities by World Bank ; Iraq Poverty Reduction Strategy High Committee
Cover of the book Earth Observation for Water Resources Management by World Bank ; Iraq Poverty Reduction Strategy High Committee
Cover of the book International Debt Statistics 2015 by World Bank ; Iraq Poverty Reduction Strategy High Committee
Cover of the book Accelerating Clean Energy Technology Research, Development, And Deployment: Lessons From Non-Energy Sectors by World Bank ; Iraq Poverty Reduction Strategy High Committee
Cover of the book Rising Global Interest in Farmland: Can It Yield Sustainable and Equitable Benefits? by World Bank ; Iraq Poverty Reduction Strategy High Committee
Cover of the book Poverty and Social Exclusion in India by World Bank ; Iraq Poverty Reduction Strategy High Committee
Cover of the book India And The Wto by World Bank ; Iraq Poverty Reduction Strategy High Committee
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy