Paper Title
Regional Disparities in Achieving Pro-Poor Growth in Bangladesh: an Analysis of Path Dependence in Poverty Reduction
Abstract
Using the Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) for the year 2005 and 2010, this paper focuses on
explaining the reductions in poverty in the different administrative divisions of Bangladesh and explores the reasons behind
these reductions. Through panel data regression analyses- both pooled and fixed effects regression models- it was found that
the existing level of inequality in the administrative divisions plays a very significant role in determining poverty-reducing
effects as well as prospective growth of those regions. It was found that regions with higher level of initial inequality
experience a lower pro-poor growth in the future and vice-versa. This determines the importance of path dependence
associated with poverty reductions in distinct regions. The paper also clearly explains how other variables such as higher
farm and non-farm incomes, higher operated land holdings and higher urbanization rate can be the initial ingredients of a
region’s higher pro-poor growth.
Keywords- GINI, Inequality, Path Dependence, Poverty, Pro-Poor, Regional