Showing papers in "Journal of International Development in 2000"
TL;DR: In this paper, a re-examination of the literature on the aid-savings, aid-investment, and aid growth relationships, and a comparative appraisal of more recent research contributions is presented.
Abstract: There is a widespread perception among academic researchers and aid practitioners alike that empirical cross-country analysis fails to find any significant link between aid flows and growth, and that aid is successful only when associated with good policies in the recipient countries. These positions do not stand up to careful scrutiny of existing studies. In this paper, we offer a re-examination of the literature on the aid-savings, aid-investment, and aid growth relationships, and a comparative appraisal of more recent research contributions. Using an analytic framework for evaluating the empirical work, a coherent and positive picture of the aid-growth link emerges. Aid works, even in countries hampered by an unfavorable policy environment.
923 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a framework adapted from Dahl (1957) is used to explore issues of power in the relationships of a US-based development NGO and donors, and examine whether the current emphasis on organizational partnership is useful or whether in practice and in theory greater recognition should be given to the importance of individual relationships.
Abstract: This article analyses partnership relationships between NGOs and donors. Using a framework adapted from Dahl (1957) to explore issues of power in the relationships of a US-based development NGO, it questions whether the current emphasis on organizational partnership is useful or whether in practice and in theory greater recognition should be given to the importance of individual relationships. It examines whether asymmetrical relationships can be termed partnerships and highlights the potential for such a discourse to reinforce existing power inequalities. Reproduced by permission of London School of Economics
303 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors employ techniques from stochastic production frontier and panel data literature to test a spillover hypothesis for large sized firms that the presence of foreign-owned firms and foreign technical capital stock in a sector leads to reduced dispersion in efficiency in the sector and fall is higher for the firms that invest in R&D activities.
Abstract: The present paper employs techniques from stochastic production frontier and panel data literature to test a spillover hypothesis for large sized firms that ‘presence of foreign-owned firms and foreign technical capital stock in a sector leads to reduced dispersion in efficiency in the sector and fall is higher for the firms that invest in R&D activities’. Dispersion being a relative concept, it may still fall if both the leading foreign firm and domestic firms show fall in technical efficiency over the period and the fall for the leader is higher and vice versa. Given the focus of the study, where concern is for the learning by the domestic firms, the study tries to get around with the problem partially, by testing the hypothesis for those local firms that have shown productivity improvement over the period. Results suggest that foreign-owned firms are close to the frontier in 13 of the total 26 sectors studied. Spillovers result for these 13 sectors indicate that there exist negative spillovers from the presence of foreign firms in the sector, but available foreign technical capital stock has a positive impact. Interesting differences emerge when the sample is bifurcated into scientific and non-scientific subgroups. Results for the scientific subgroup indicate that the indirect gains or spillovers are not automatic consequence of foreign firm's presence, but they depend to a large extent on the efforts of local firms to invest in learning or R&D activities so as to decodify the spilled knowledge. On the other hand, the evidence of spillovers to non-scientific non-FDI firms is not very strong. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
303 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the growth performance of Indian States during 1970-94 and proposed a grouping of States according to differences in the availability of physical, social, and economic infrastructure, using principal components analysis.
Abstract: This paper examines the growth performance of Indian States during 1970-94. We, first, propose a grouping of States according to differences in the availability of physical, social, and economic infrastructure, using principal components analysis. Then, combining principal components analysis and panel data estimation techniques, we assess the contribution of various infrastructure indicators to growth performance. The analysis tackles endogeneity issues in the provision of infrastructure by way of instrumental variables estimation for many of the infrastructure indicators. We do find evidence of conditional convergence across States. This does not rule out persistent income inequalities due to the dispersion of steady-state income levels. Such disparities are accounted for by differences, first, in the structure of production, second, in infrastructure endowments, and, third, in Statespecific fixed effects in the growth regression. Consequently, economic policy measures aiming at ...
228 citations
TL;DR: The authors argue that aid fungibility itself is not an important concern, and distracts attention from what donors can do to ensure that more of their aid is allocated to areas that they want to support.
Abstract: This paper critically reviews Assessing Aid (World Bank, 1998), focussing on Chapter 3, which looks at public sector aspects of aid, specifically the issue of aid fungibility. Whilst Assessing Aid's focus on public sector aspects of aid is highly appropriate, it is based on a partial review of the literature and draws conclusions not entirely supported by the literature. We argue that fungibility itself is not an important concern, and distracts attention from what donors can do to ensure that more of their aid is allocated to areas that they want to support. Insufficient attention is paid to how aid impacts on public sector behaviour overall and how fiscal management can be improved. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
131 citations
TL;DR: This article explored the circumstances under which parents would be persuaded to invest in their children's education, and suggested a series of stylized transitions in the inter-generational contract, each associated with increasing willingness on the part of parents to invest resources in their own children.
Abstract: This paper explores why so many children remain outside the schooling system, despite the current emphasis on education as a form of human capital and as a basic human right. The value given to investments in education partly depends on the extent to which such investments fit in with the implicit inter-generational contracts between parents and children, particularly in societies where there are few alternatives to the family as sources of welfare and security in old age. When the decision to educate a child remains private, the interests of parents' security in old age will dominate over the long-term interests of the child. To explore the circumstances under which parents would be persuaded to invest in their children's education, the paper suggests a series of stylized ‘transitions’ in the inter-generational contract, each associated with increasing willingness on the part of parents to invest resources in their children. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
120 citations
TL;DR: In the 21st century, a dominant trend in development thinking makes it refer specifically to the practice of development agencies as mentioned in this paper, which carries the dangers of losing the complexity and ambiguity of development, underplaying the importance of vision and of historical process, and limiting development to actions and policies aimed at reducing poverty in poor countries.
Abstract: As we enter the 21st century, a dominant trend in development thinking makes it refer specifically to the practice of development agencies. However, to accept this as the main meaning of development would carry the dangers of losing the complexity and ambiguity of development, of underplaying the importance of vision and of historical process, and of limiting development to actions and policies aimed at reducing poverty in poor countries. It is important to challenge this restricted view of what development is. At the same time, the current prime importance of practice within the development field should be recognized and development practice should be taken more seriously from the point of view of theory building. Focused work on notions such as accountability, trusteeship and public action would help here, as would work on building up a tradition of critical practice analogous that in Organization Development. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
115 citations
TL;DR: This paper developed a frontier shadow cost function approach to estimate empirically the effects of technological change, technical and allocative efficiency improvement in Chinese agriculture during the reform period (1980-93).
Abstract: This paper develops a frontier shadow cost function approach to estimate empirically the effects of technological change, technical and allocative efficiency improvement in Chinese agriculture during the reform period (1980–93). The results reveal that the first phase rural reforms (1979–84) which focused on the decentralization of the production system have had significant impact on technical efficiency but not allocative efficiency. However, during the second phase reforms which was supposed to focus on the liberalization of rural markets, technical efficiency improved very little and allocative efficiency has increased only slightly. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
97 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors argue that ethical trade is a paradox of globalization, involving the introduction of company codes of conduct covering employ standards through private sector initiatives, often in collaboration with other stakeholders.
Abstract: Ethical trade has arisen in the context of globalization. Globalization has been associated with economic liberalization and deregulation of labour markets. This contributed to a competitive ‘downward spiral’ in labour conditions in export sectors. Ethical trade is a paradox of globalization, involving the introduction of company codes of conduct covering employ standards through private sector initiatives, often in collaboration with other stakeholders. Ethical trade could improve employment conditions in global exports for current and future generations, but it has limitations. It can complement but is not a substitute for broader strategies that address the problems of development in an era of globalization. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
86 citations
TL;DR: This article argued that debt crises and substantial debt cancellation are part of the normal economic cycle, and that an unusual aspect of this cycle has been the unwillingness to cancel debt, and used a rights-based approach to development to estimate that more than 600 billion dollars in debt must be cancelled to release sufficient funds to meet internationally agreed development targets and thus satisfy human rights.
Abstract: Developing country debt now exceeds 2.4 trillion dollars and has become a major international political and economic issue for debtor governments, creditor governments, the IMF and World Bank, and campaigning organizations such as Jubilee 2000. For the poorest countries, debt has become unpayable and debt service an obstacle to development. This paper argues that debt crises and substantial debt cancellation are part of the normal economic cycle, and that an unusual aspect of this cycle has been the unwillingness to cancel debt. Recent historic precedent suggest that at least 1 trillion dollars in debt would need to be cancelled. The paper then uses a rights-based approach to development to estimate that more than 600 billion dollars in debt must be cancelled to release sufficient funds to meet internationally agreed development targets and thus satisfy human rights. Finally, the paper argues that lenders must take responsibility for illegitimate, corrupt and odious loans. Debt cancellation is the norm, not the exception, and the only question is how much.
85 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors identify illness as a key constraint on bustee (slum) households' ability to secure their livelihoods using qualitative and quantitative data from the Urban Livelihoods Study (ULS).
Abstract: Using qualitative and quantitative data from the Urban Livelihoods Study (ULS), this paper identifies illness as a key constraint on bustee (slum) households' ability to secure their livelihoods. The consequences of ill-health for bustee dwellers are examined and the coping strategies employed are described. The common responses to illness are found to often have negative implications for the human, material and social capital of households, thus making them ever more vulnerable. In order to redress this situation, action is needed on three fronts: reduction in the risks of morbidity, a large portion of which are poverty-related, stemming from poor living conditions and inadequate nutrition; provision of accessible affordable quality healthcare for adults; and complementary support measures to protect households and individuals from the knock-on effects of illness. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors argue that aid should be reallocated in favour of poor countries with good policies, based on a model in which poverty depends on growth, and growth on aid, the impact of aid being higher in countries with better policies.
Abstract: Assessing Aid argues that aid should be reallocated in favour of poor countries with good policies. This argument is based on a model in which poverty depends on growth, and growth on aid, the impact of aid being higher in countries with good policies. So-called ‘poverty-efficient’ aid allocations are thus calculated, which are shown to be at odds with those of bilateral donors. There are a number of theoretical and empirical shortcomings in this work. First, aid can affect poverty through channels other than growth. Second, what constitutes ‘good policies’ is debatable. Third, the empirical estimates are very sensitive to changes in model specification and sample. This paper critically reviews these three issues and finds the poverty-oriented aid reallocations implied in Assessing Aid to be an unreliable guide to policy. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors use the framework of Fiscal Response Models to analyse the impact of foreign assistance on recipient government's behavior, and show that the effect of aid on government allocation of resources appears to have been negligible.
Abstract: This paper uses the framework of Fiscal Response Models to analyse the impact of foreign assistance on recipient government's behaviour. Such models provide a means of examining the impact of aid on taxation and expenditure decisions. In the theoretical model presented here foreign aid has been endogenized to account for the fact that governments have some influence over the amount of aid committed to the country, and considerable influence over disbursements. Thus, fiscal planning will be based on targets for expenditures and revenues, the latter including aid. This permits a more complete examination of the effects of aid on government fiscal behaviour than do standard fungibility models. The model is illustrated in an application to Costa Rica, where the effect of aid on government allocation of resources appears to have been negligible. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
TL;DR: This paper examined the stability of the generational bargain against bad behaviour by particular generations; fractures in the generational cluster; and re-negotiation of the bargain, concluding that the bargain is a potentially useful one for looking at important aspects of economic and social policies for both rich and poor countries.
Abstract: The paper suggests that the framework of a generational bargain is a potentially useful one for looking at important aspects of economic and social policies for both rich and poor countries. The bargain is that the working generation makes transfers of human capital to the young and consumption to the old on the understanding that other generations will behave in a similar way. The paper examines the stability of the bargain against ‘bad’ behaviour by particular generations; fractures in the generational cluster; and re-negotiation of the bargain. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors show that the law tradition of a country is associated with its institutional quality, and that countries with a French civil code tradition display a negative link with bureaucratic development, lack of corruption, credibility of governments and others.
Abstract: Law tradition of a country is associated with its institutional quality. Countries with a French Civil code tradition display a negative link with bureaucratic development, lack of corruption, credibility of governments and others. Results are maintained even after controlling for regional and colonial variables and, in general, appear robust. Countries with a Common Law tradition show a positive relationship with institutional quality, though not as robust when testing a broad range of specifications. These results are consistent with the hypothesis of Scully, Posner and others, that link origin of laws and economic behaviour. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors argue that Sen's notions of functioning and capability of individuals lack emphasis on self-development and how individuals can themselves advance their functional and capability, which prevents realization of the full potential of his quest for a wider supportive environment for human well-being, consisting of internal criticism of traditions, a pluralist framework of secular toleration and an epistemology of positional objectivity.
Abstract: The paper undertakes a critical dialogue with the perspective of human well-being offered by Amartya Sen. Sen's notions of functioning and capability of individuals lack emphasis on self-development and how individuals can themselves advance their functioning and capability. Further, his notion of well-being as distinct from the agency aspect of the human person and his dualism of negative and positive freedom are not helpful for what Sen himself calls a comprehensive redefinition of human development as a quest for freedom. Finally, freedom is not sufficient, and development as freedom needs to be supplemented by a quest for development as responsibility. To overcome all this is difficult within Sen's frame of reference because of its lack of an ontological striving or a deep conceptualization of self and self-preparation. This prevents realization of the full potential of his quest for a wider supportive environment for human well-being, consisting of internal criticism of traditions, a pluralist framework of secular toleration and an epistemology of positional objectivity. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
TL;DR: In this paper, the persistence and significance of informal economic activity in both the developed and developing world is examined, by examining the variety of ways in which people at the lower end of the economic scale attempt to secure their economic livelihoods in the absence of formal employment opportunities.
Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to examine the persistence and significance of informal economic activity in both the developed and developing world. Drawing on empirical work carried out in Belfast, the paper suggests that many similarities exist between the informal economic activities of people on low incomes in Belfast and the poor in developing countries. The paper illustrates these connections through an examination of three aspects of the informal economy: reciprocity between households, informal self-employment and informal paid employment. By examining the variety of ways in which people at the lower end of the economic scale attempt to secure their economic livelihoods in the absence of formal employment opportunities, the paper demonstrates the global nature of the informal economy. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
TL;DR: In a recent paper, Easterly and Levine as discussed by the authors provide a provocative explanation based on the deleterious impact of ethnic fragmentation on African growth, which is generally in accordance with one's a priori views on the bitterinheritance stemming from the carve-up of the continent by the colonial powers during themid-to late-nineteenth century.
Abstract: There is no doubt that African growth has been slow relative to the rest of theworld, and in a recent paper, Easterly and Levine (1997) provide a provocative explanationbased on the deleterious impact of ethnic fragmentation. In Easterly and Levine'sexplanation, economic policies are important determinants of growth performance, be it inAfrica or in the rest of the world. In turn, the greater the degree of ethnic fragmentation,the poorer the policies. Since ethnic fragmentation is (according to their measure) greaterin Africa, a significant portion (one third) of the difference between the average rate ofgrowth in sub-Saharan Africa, relative to East Asia, is readily accounted for.This explanation is generally in accordance with one's a priori views on the bitterinheritance stemming from the carve-up of the continent by the colonial powers during themid- to late-nineteenth century. It also squares with the view that policies matter forgrowth, and that policies have tended to be extremely poor in Africa. It is also, however,an explanation that leaves little scope for improvement, in that it is hard to see how apractical solution to ethnic fragmentation can be found. In other words, if ethnicfragmentation lies at the heart of Africa's growth tragedy, there is very little, if anything,that can be done about it. The tragedy is no longer merely a tragedy, it is the fate of Africa.This paper questions both the robustness of Easterly and Levine empirical results aswell as whether anything can be said regarding the impact of ethnicity on African countriesbased on their data set and model. It also offers some comments on other relatedeconometric papers devoted to the same topic.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors used quantitative and qualitative data from the Urban Livelihoods Study (ULS) to describe the patterns of marriage and in particular the rising incidence of marital instability among the bustee population of Dhaka.
Abstract: Qualitative and quantitative data from the Urban Livelihoods Study (ULS) are used to describe the patterns of marriage and in particular the rising incidence of marital instability among the bustee (slum) population of Dhaka. The changing nature of bustee society provides greater options for women compared with their rural counterparts. Reduced social sanctions against divorce dysfunction of the goshti weaker familial ties and increased options for labour force participation are giving women greater freedom. Bustee women appear more able to avoid serious domestic violence by rejecting unfavourable marital ties. However despite these factors women are faced with a dilemma regarding marriage. Marital discord insecurity and instability are high and yet marriage remains a necessity. The unstable nature of bustee life harassment from men social and economic dependency the difficulty of returning to the village and absence of strong kin networks force women to marry. On balance women appear to be suffering from the increasingly unstable and uncertain nature of marriage. The experience of marital breakdown has serious social and financial implications. Women living without husbands are poorer than their married counterparts. Children too are faring badly. (authors)
TL;DR: In this paper, a review of the relationship between knowledge management and development is presented, highlighting the ways knowledge has become a major issue and why it matters, arguing the danger of oversimplifying its application as the new panacea for development.
Abstract: This paper reviews the relationship between knowledge management and development. First it highlights the ways knowledge has become a major issue and why it matters, arguing the danger of oversimplifying its application as the new panacea for development. The paper then emphasizes the need to understand better institutional and industrial change processes through detailed investigation of production transformations 'on the ground'. The paper suggests that knowledge-based industrialization demands a change in the ways we think about development and in policies to promote industrialization, focusing on issues of knowledge transfer, local knowledge and institutions, and knowledge management.
TL;DR: In this article, Amartya Sen's 1998 Nobel Prize and his recent synthesis of his views in Development as Freedom provide an opportunity to assess his intellectual contribution and style, identifying entitlements analysis and capabilities analysis as the areas which make him stand out for wider audiences from the economists of his generation; and considering the integrative development philosophy which he has constructed around those two areas, centering on the direct and instrumental values of freedom and democracy.
Abstract: text: Amartya Sen’s 1998 Nobel Prize and his recent synthesis of his views in Development as Freedom provide an opportunity to assess his intellectual contribution and style. The paper identifies entitlements analysis and capabilities analysis as the areas which make him stand out for wider audiences from the economists of his generation; and considers the integrative development philosophy which he has constructed around those two areas, centering on the direct and instrumental values of freedom and democracy. Three aspects of Sen’s intellectual style are discussed: first, his multi-disciplinarity and fruitful balance between vivid cases, formal theorizing, and policy relevance; second, a preference for gentle persuasion, seen in adoption of evocative but ambiguous, politically safe labels and an avoidance of seeking debate on all fronts (e.g. concerning hyper affluence); third, a continuing project to debate with and influence economists, and hence, while upgrading parts of their inadequate picture of persons, retention of other parts. His capability approach lends itself however to enrichment by deeper analyses of human agency.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the relationship between foreign trade and foreign direct investment in selected Latin American and Southeast Asian economies in the period 1970 to 1994 and found that the impact of FDI on the trade balance is stronger in trade-oriented economies, and that net FDI inflows are more sensitive to changes in exports in Southeast Asian countries, than in their Latin American counterparts, given the export orientation of foreign investment in the former region.
Abstract: This paper examines the relationship between foreign trade and foreign direct investment (FDI) in selected Latin American and Southeast Asian economies in the period 1970 – 94. The hypothesis of complementarity/substitution between FDI and foreign trade is tested using bivariate VECM models and temporal causality analysis. The impact of FDI on the trade balance is also assessed and weak exogeneity tests are performed. It is found that the impact of FDI on the trade balance is stronger in trade-oriented economies, and that net FDI inflows are more sensitive to changes in exports in Southeast Asian countries, than in their Latin American counterparts, given the export-orientation of foreign investment in the former region. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
TL;DR: The authors examines French influence on humanitarian intervention, and in particular focuses on the role of Bernard Kouchner and the promotion of international interference within sovereign states, and pointed out how key UN General Assembly and Security Council Resolutions reflect Kouchners' impact, and how he is ascribing his ideas to the UN system as a whole in his current position as head of the UN Mission on Kosovo.
Abstract: This paper examines French influence on humanitarian intervention, and in particular focuses on the role of Bernard Kouchner and the promotion of international interference within sovereign states. It is argued that the English language literature on humanitarianism has tended to overlook or downplay the importance of Kouchner's activities, which in fact have far-reaching implications. The origins of Kouchner's notion of a legal obligation to interfere are traced back to the Biafra war, and to fierce debates about ‘third-worldism’ in Paris. It is pointed out how key UN General Assembly and Security Council Resolutions reflect Kouchner's impact, and how he is ascribing his ideas to the UN system as a whole in his current position as head of the UN Mission on Kosovo. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
TL;DR: In this paper, the spillover effects of foreign direct investments on Turkish manufacturing industry have been examined by five single equation econometric models, and the results suggest that while the presence of foreign firms increases competition in domestic industries, there is no significant contribution on the productivity of domestic firms.
Abstract: In this article, spillover effects of foreign direct investments on Turkish manufacturing industry have been examined by five single equation econometric models. All models are constructed in line with the recent spillover models both for developed and developing economies. The first two models aimed to estimate the spillover effects of the presence of foreign firms on the productivity and competitiveness of domestic firms. Estimation results suggest that while the presence of foreign firms increases competition in domestic industries, there is no significant contribution on the productivity of domestic firms. Two of the remaining three models basically tested the impact of technology gap between domestic and foreign firms on the productivity and market growth of domestic firms. However, no significant relation is found between those variables. The final model estimated the impact of the initial technology gap on the change in technology gap in the course of time. In the final model, a significant correlation is found. Those results and some accommodating data on the performances of multinational firms led us to conclude that Turkey is at the crossroad. If locational advantages of the country are developed by proper policies, spillover effects on the domestic industries could be materialized with the rising competition, which has already brought into by the presence of foreign firms. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors compared the poverty rates of male and female-headed households in Pakistan and also in South Africa, and found that female heads are unconditionally poorer than others.
Abstract: This paper compares the poverty rates of male- and female-headed households in Pakistan and, also, in South Africa. In finds that in South Africa, female-headed households are unconditionally poorer than the others. In Pakistan, however, this result holds only in the presence of economies of household size and adult/child consumption relativities, not in the per capita case. The study estimates equivalence scales in the presence of non-linearities in the functional form, and provides evidence of significant economies of household size in both countries. The paper proposes an alternative test of gender bias in the intrahousehold allocation of resources, and applies it to the Pakistan and South African data sets. The results point to some interesting dissimilarities between the Pakistani and South African evidence. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley and Sons, Ltd.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors outline the complex historical legacy and structural adjustment efforts in Mozambique in addition to reviewing recent economic developments, and show that macroeconomic stabilisation has occurred through recovery from a suppressed outset.
Abstract: This paper outlines the complex historical legacy and structural adjustment efforts in Mozambique in addition to reviewing recent economic developments. An in-depth analysis of new and more reliable national accounts data show that macroeconomic stabilisation has occurred through recovery from a suppressed outset. Yet, easy import substitution has now been used up, and structural transformation on the export side remains to be addressed. Moreover, a coherent development strategy geared towards poverty reduction is still to be implemented. The government budget also remains problematic, and aid dependency continues. Accordingly, fundamental development challenges lie ahead.
TL;DR: This article reviewed how urban social disadvantage has been variously understood, tracing shifts in analytical emphasis and policy consequences over the last half century and explored the implications for urban policy and politics of the increasing focus on social exclusion and inclusion, in particular whether a social exclusion perspective affords a better opportunity for addressing issues of inequalities manifest at the level of the city.
Abstract: During the early development decades the urban poor were seen as an aberration or an underclass, victims of their own apathy and modest expectations (Lewis, 1961). Today they are more likely to be seen as heroic (De Soto, 1989) or as crucial contributors to inclusive cities (UNCHS (Habitat), 1999). By looking first at urbanization trends and the rise in urban poverty, this article reviews how urban social disadvantage has been variously understood, tracing shifts in analytical emphasis and policy consequences over the last half century. It explores the implications for urban policy and politics of the increasing focus on social exclusion and inclusion, in particular whether a social exclusion perspective affords a better opportunity for addressing issues of inequalities manifest at the level of the city. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the catalytic effect of the IMF and World Bank in developing countries and countries in transition and concluded that overall it is weak, but that the catalyzing role of the World Bank remains potentially important, and assesses ways in which it may be strengthened.
Abstract: Does the involvement of the IMF and World Bank in developing countries and countries in transition help them to attract capital from other sources? Do the multilateral institutions exert a catalytic effect? While there is a strong body of opinion that claims that they do, the catalytic effect has been under-researched. This paper briefly reports the results from a research project financed by the UK Department for International Development. It examines the theory behind catalysis and also investigates the empirical evidence relating to it, drawing on qualitative research, regression analysis based on a large sample of developing countries, and systematic case studies. The analysis shows how the catalytic effect is nuanced and complex but that overall it is weak. The catalyzing role of the IMF and the World Bank remains potentially important, however, and the paper assesses ways in which it may be strengthened. Reforms are discussed in the context of the debate over a new international financial architecture. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley and Sons, Ltd.
TL;DR: In this article, the role of social resources in the urban labour market in Bangladesh is examined and it is shown that different elements of labour market are interlinked and interlocked and social capital often dominates financial capital.
Abstract: This paper seeks to look into the role of social resources in the urban labour market. Unlike most empirical work in Bangladesh, which consider the labour market with reference to the supply and demand of labour, this paper argues that there are ‘other’ things that need to be considered. In a society like Bangladesh, different social elements have an obvious influence on the labour market. This has practical importance in devising any poverty alleviation policy and intervention strategy. The present paper tries to show that different elements of labour market are interlinked and interlocked and social capital often dominates financial capital. This keeps the vast majority of the social resource-poor excluded from labour market opportunities. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.