The quality of growth and poverty reduction

Abstract

The term 'quality of growth' emphasizes that quantitative growth processes have to be evaluated in terms of their qualitative outcomes which include the sustained ability of growth to reduce material poverty, to improve health and education outcomes, to create new job opportunities, to reduce vulnerabilities and risks, to protect the environment, and to lead to higher participation and voice in more equitable institutions.

The presentation reviews some empirical examples as to the relationship between growth and several outcomes indicator n Latin America and then focuses on the growth versus material poverty reduction experience in Argentina in recent years.

Based on that discussion, two priorities for public policies to support a quality growth path are shortly discussed: policies for skills building (as they assist a complementary labor supply response to opening economic opportunities), and policies to improve equity in the distribution of assets as they can lead to higher and more equally shared growth paths.