Poverty and Social Assistance in Transition Countries

Review
"...this book provides valuable information about poverty and social policy in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, and it offers useful lessons for other parts of the world facing economic difficulties."


Book Description
Declining incomes and growing income inequality have led to a rise in poverty in the transition economies of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. This study examines poverty and social assistance in six countries--Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Estonia, Russia, and Kyrgyz Republic--to compare the poverty profiles and the correlates of poverty between the two regions. The study finds that the profile of poverty is more sharply defined in Eastern Europe than in the former Soviet Union, where poverty is more widespread. This holds the potential for better targeting of social assistance in Eastern Europe, and the study proposes a novel two-step approach to identify the poor.


About the Author
Jeanine Braithwaite is Economist in the Europe and Central Asia Department.

Christiaan Grootaert is Senior Economist in the Social Development Department.

Branko Milanovic is Principal Economist in the Development Economics Research Group; all are at the World Bank.



Buy from Amazon     Compare Prices

Three economists from the World Bank find that the profile of poverty is more sharply defined in the Eastern European countries of Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Estonia, and the Kyrgyz Republic than in the former Soviet Union, where poverty is more widespread. Hoping the study will help target social assistance in the region, they propose a two-step approach to identifying the poor. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR


Buy from Barnes & Noble     Compare Prices