Vulnerability to Poverty: Determinants and Policy Issues

For families in poor countries, risk and shocks such as storms and floods, illness and accidents, unemployment and civil conflict are often part of everyday life. This book provides comprehensive empirical evidence of risk management strategies in developing countries and how they impact on the lives of the poor. Possible strategie include (i) reducing risk factors (ii) mitigating the impact of risks through formal insurance and insurance substitutes, and (iii) seeking support to better cope with negative shocks. The chapters of this book empirically assess several development policies that aim to improve risk management strategies, including social health insurance to mitigate risks; and urban infrastructure to improve health risks associated with water and sanitation. The clear focus on policy implications, derived from rigorous statistical analysis, makes this book a useful guide for policy makers, researchers and students of development economics and related fields. “An insightful book, thoroughly researched, and concisely written, it provides timely guidance on key policy issues including sex-specific drivers of vulnerability, the impacts of social health insurance, and the impact water and sanitation interventions.” Prof. Stephan Klasen, Ph.D., University of Göttingen “This book is truly adding to the knowledge on poverty risk management and the impact of public health interventions in developing countries: Hypotheses firmly rooted in theory are tested on original data-sets producing results of high political and practical relevance.” Prof Dr. Eva Terberger, Director, Evaluation Department, KfW Development Bank