Growth and distribution

The challenge:

Since the turn of the century, a large proportion of countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean have experienced impressive growth rates. While extreme poverty rates have reduced, the benefits of growth have not been shared equitably.

On the one hand, technological change, globalisation (and the associated trend of premature deindustrialisation) have led to polarization in labour markets. On the other hand, inequality of opportunity persists, despite significant reductions.

Poverty and inequality are at the heart of the link between growth and distribution and their alleviation depends on the political and governance mechanisms in individual settings.

We need to urgently identify innovative approaches that narrow both income and opportunity gaps.

How we are addressing it:

GDI has a long and successful tradition in this area:

  • Distribution (and its links to both poverty and inequality) has been at the heart of numerous projects, particularly in the context of Latin America, South Asia and Africa.
  • Topical issues on governance, institutions and their links to both growth and distribution have been addressed as part of the Effective States research centre.
  • GDI researchers are branching out into cutting edge methodological frameworks like behavioural economics and have addressed behavioural aspects of governance and intra-household allocation of resources.

Research Projects

Future DAMS

FutureDAMS

The FutureDAMS consortium is working to improve the design, selection and operation of dams to support sustainable development.
The political economy of social protection expansion in Africa

The political economy of social protection expansion in Africa

This research analyses the political economy of social protection policy formulation and implementation in sub-Saharan Africa.
Deals and Development

Deals and Development

The book Deals and Development is based on the Effective States and Inclusive Development research on the politics of growth, 
ESID

Effective States and Inclusive Development

A DFID funded global partnership investigating the kinds of politics that promote development.

Research project archive

Our teaching agenda:

People and publications:

Click on the names below to read their latest publications or read the latest publications from the Global Development Institute.

PhD Researchers and Post-Doctoral Fellows

  • Media Askar - Financial Literacy, Cultural Identity and Poverty
  • Abiola Olatunji - Revenue Generation for Development, in Developing Countries
  • Amin Ali - The impact of decentralization on poverty reduction and resource allocation in Bangladesh
  • Nahid Farnaz - Financial Development and Income Inequality
  • Gabriele Restelli - The effects of foreign aid on international migration to Europe
  • Thanh Bui - Determinant of multidimensional inequality and social mobility among different regions in Vietnam
  • Yidian Meng - The impact of gender inequality on economic diversification through Labour market
  • Magaly Duarte Urquhart - Debt sustainability from a Central Bank Perspective 
  • Conghui Han - Fiscal Decentralisation, Environmental Regulation and Green Development
  • Natalia Galvis Arias
  • Shuyu Pan - Non-Contributary Pension Policies, Old-Age Poverty and Old-Age Mortality in Brazil
  • Yanlu Huang Climate Change and Labour Market in China
  • Jiacheng Liu - Urban Stratification and Social Integration of China's Floating Population 'Pushing Down-the Invisible Separation Wall

News and insights: