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Where Is Poverty Concentrated? New Evidence Based on Internationally Consistent Urban and Poverty Measurements

Author

Listed:
  • Shohei Nakamura

    (World Bank Group)

  • Pierre-Philippe Combes

    (ECON - Département d'économie (Sciences Po) - Sciences Po - Sciences Po - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Robin Moellerherm

    (Universität Heidelberg [Heidelberg] = Heidelberg University)

  • Charlotte Robert

    (Universität Heidelberg [Heidelberg] = Heidelberg University)

  • Mark Roberts

    (World Bank Group)

  • Benjamin Stewart

    (World Bank Group)

  • Slava Yakubenko

    (HSE - Vysšaja škola èkonomiki = National Research University Higher School of Economics [Moscow])

Abstract
The lack of comparable urban definitions across countries has presented a significant challenge in effectively addressing poverty in both urban and rural areas. This study aims to tackle this issue by comparing subnational poverty statistics across countries, integrating internationally consistent definitions of urban areas into the World Bank's official global poverty measurement framework. Focusing primarily on 16 Sub-Saharan African countries, the analysis reveals that poverty rates tend to be lower in densely populated urban areas. However, the findings also highlight that urban areas have a higher concentration of impoverished populations than previously estimated. These results underscore the importance of employing consistent urban definitions in cross-country poverty analysis and call for a reevaluation of geographically targeted policies to expedite poverty reduction efforts.

Suggested Citation

  • Shohei Nakamura & Pierre-Philippe Combes & Robin Moellerherm & Charlotte Robert & Mark Roberts & Benjamin Stewart & Slava Yakubenko, 2023. "Where Is Poverty Concentrated? New Evidence Based on Internationally Consistent Urban and Poverty Measurements," Working Papers hal-04345458, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:wpaper:hal-04345458
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://sciencespo.hal.science/hal-04345458
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