## Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction in Sub-Saharan Africa

_IMF Working Papers, August 1, 2001_

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## Bibliographic details
- Authors: Gary G. Moser, Toshihiro Ichida
- Published: August 1, 2001
- Series: IMF Working Papers
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781451853605.001

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### Key findings
- The study confirms a strong and robust relationship between economic growth and poverty reduction in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Employing a panel of 46 countries covering the period 1972-97, the analysis finds:
  - A 10 percent increase in per capita GDP leads to a 1 percent increase in life expectancy.
  - A 10 percent increase in per capita GDP leads to a 3-4 percent decline in infant mortality rates.
  - A 10 percent increase in per capita GDP leads to a 3½-4 percent increase in the rate of gross primary school enrollment.
- The results are robust for high- and low-income countries, as well as fast- and slow-growth countries.

### Data and methodology
- Data: panel of 46 countries.
- Time period: 1972-97.
- Publication length: 32 pages.
- Series: Working Paper No. 2001/112.
- Issue: 112.
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781451853605.001

### Controls and determinants of variability in poverty outcomes
- Quality of growth is identified as an important control variable explaining variability of poverty across Africa.
- Civil conflict is an important control variable affecting poverty variability.
- HIV/AIDs is an important control variable affecting poverty variability.
- Civil and institutional freedom are important control variables explaining poverty variability.
- Island economies are an important control variable explaining poverty variability.
- A country's latitude:
  - Is not found to be a significant factor explaining life expectancy.
  - Is not found to be a significant factor explaining infant mortality rates.
  - Is a significant factor explaining gross primary school enrollments.

### Robustness and scope
- Findings hold across:
  - High-income and low-income country subsamples.
  - Fast-growth and slow-growth country subsamples.

_Authors: Gary G. Moser and Toshihiro Ichida; August 1, 2001. IMF Working Paper No. 2001/112. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781451853605.001_

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_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/30/economic-growth-and-poverty-reduction-in-sub-saharan-africa-15265_