UNU Update: WIDER convenes conference on growth and poverty

WIDER
Convenes
Development
Conference on
Growth and
Poverty

Economic growth is a prerequisite for sustained poverty reduction but policies that target higher growth rates often are associated with a range of short-term problems including rising unemployment, greater economic insecurity, environmental degradation, and the weakening of traditional social safety nets.

Pro-poor growth strategies attempt to address these short-term problems but the ideal mix of policies, and their impact on the prospects for poverty reduction in the longer run, remain controversial topics.

Aiming to build on some of the themes covered in the World Development Report 2000-2001, UNU World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU/WIDER) is organizing the Development Conference on Growth and Poverty, to be held in Helsinki May 25 and 26.

The conference will review what is currently known about the relationship between poverty and growth and provide an opportunity to share views on the direction of future research, including issues that require attention, methods of analysis which need to be developed, and new data sets that would facilitate research. Selected conference papers, together with a policy summary, will be included in a conference volume to be published by UNU/WIDER.

Those interested in participating in the conference are invited to submit an application by February 28 together with a short summary of their research interests. Applications may be sent by e-mail, by fax to +358 9 61599333 or by mail to: UNU/WIDER, Katajanokanlaituri 6B, 00160 Helsinki, Finland.