Notes from “Fostering Pro- Poor Growth” Sarfraz Khan Qureshi Director, Innovative Development Strategies Sarfraz Khan Qureshi Director, Innovative Development Strategies

Fosu: Determinants of Pro-Poor Growth Inequality reduction is crucial to poverty reduction Should strive to find policies that are growth promoting and inequality reducing One potential type of policy-- policies that encourage growth in sub-sectors with high output elasticities with respect to employment Inequality reduction is crucial to poverty reduction Should strive to find policies that are growth promoting and inequality reducing One potential type of policy-- policies that encourage growth in sub-sectors with high output elasticities with respect to employment

Huang- Rural Poverty Reduction and Determinants of Pro-Poor Growth Studies the major driving forces behind massive poverty reduction in China Finds negative association between the change in poverty incidence and change in agricultural output (over time) Economic growth also essential Studies the major driving forces behind massive poverty reduction in China Finds negative association between the change in poverty incidence and change in agricultural output (over time) Economic growth also essential

Diaz-Bonilla: Global Macroeconomy Developments: Implications for Poverty Quality of growth is affected by world variables Cycles and Trends can affect growth Current cycle seems to be ending Developing countries should be prepared for down cycle Trend: Need to be aware that economic growth will continue to require (scarce) energy resources Quality of growth is affected by world variables Cycles and Trends can affect growth Current cycle seems to be ending Developing countries should be prepared for down cycle Trend: Need to be aware that economic growth will continue to require (scarce) energy resources

Ahmed: Fiscal Policy Instruments and Political Economy of Designing Programs for the Poorest Need a more subtle view of governance Local officials may not have incentives to implement central “programs” Taxation, when centralized, can redistribute, but… If not centralized, poor areas lack resources to meet poverty spending Transfers-- central government can lack monitoring ability over local regions Need a more subtle view of governance Local officials may not have incentives to implement central “programs” Taxation, when centralized, can redistribute, but… If not centralized, poor areas lack resources to meet poverty spending Transfers-- central government can lack monitoring ability over local regions

Keyzer-- Cost of Achieving MDG1 Declaration of MDG 1 missed a lot of potential costs in goals Overlooked malaria, leprosy, infrastructure, supply side on education/health improvements Assumed constant wages for teachers, etc. Data basis for some MDG indicators unclear or wrong (FAO data vs. DHS) Ignores lessons from Asia Declaration of MDG 1 missed a lot of potential costs in goals Overlooked malaria, leprosy, infrastructure, supply side on education/health improvements Assumed constant wages for teachers, etc. Data basis for some MDG indicators unclear or wrong (FAO data vs. DHS) Ignores lessons from Asia

Q&A: Highlights Left off the table-- higher agricultural productivity as a source of poverty reduction More subtle knowledge necessary for productivity improvements in Sub-Sarahan Africa than Asia Should migration be more of an instrument for growth? Left off the table-- higher agricultural productivity as a source of poverty reduction More subtle knowledge necessary for productivity improvements in Sub-Sarahan Africa than Asia Should migration be more of an instrument for growth?

Q&A: More highlights Fostering pro-poor growth-- discussion failed to mention role of women-- and could be a disaster if migration is promoted However, migration is largely female in some countries (e.g. Philippines) Fostering pro-poor growth-- discussion failed to mention role of women-- and could be a disaster if migration is promoted However, migration is largely female in some countries (e.g. Philippines)