Assessing the Impact of Structural Adjustmenton the Poor: The Case of Malawi

Author/Editor:

Odd Per Brekk ; Ronald P Hicks

Publication Date:

November 1, 1991

Disclaimer: This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF.The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate

Summary:

This paper applies, through a case study on Malawi, a simple methodology indicating the first-round (i.e., price) effects of macroeconomic policies on real earnings of the poor. As the economic program in Malawi has not involved substantial exchange rate action or cuts in subsidies, the real incomes of the poor have been most clearly affected by the pricing policies of the agricultural parastatal and the overall anti-inflationary measures incorporated in the program; developments in minimum wages have also been important. The study suggests that, on balance, these various factors have led to an increase in real incomes of the poor over the program period.

Series:

Working Paper No. 1991/112

Subject:

Expenditure Income Inflation Labor Minimum wages National accounts Prices Real wages Wages

English

Publication Date:

November 1, 1991

ISBN/ISSN:

9781451853513/1018-5941

Stock No:

WPIEA1121991

Pages:

30

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