Targeted Poverty Alleviation and Pro-Poor Growth

Abstract

This article assesses the pro-poor growth effect in China’s rural populationsover the period 2007–2018 using the strict pro-poor index proposed byNanak Kakwani. The results show that while China’s rural areas did notexperience strictly defined pro-poor growth between 2007–2013, acontemporary pro-poor effect was observed during which Targeted PovertyAlleviation (TPA) policies were implemented. The conclusion is robust inthe dimensions of income and expenditure and non-income well-being.Through a heterogeneity analysis, this article finds differences in pro-poorgrowth among various groups. In particular, poor women, seniors, children,and geographic areas (such as western China) benefited more during thetargeted poverty-alleviation policy period than their counterparts. Finally,we use Kakwani’s shared prosperity index to show that China is activelymaking more positive efforts and preparations towards attaining commonlyshared prosperity.