INTRODUCTION
Measures of poverty and inequality are used across many research areas for comparisons – such as assessments of whether poverty has increased, or which are the poorest regions in a country – or for studies aiming to determine associations of various outcomes - such as health and educational attainment - with poverty. Poverty is an intrinsic part of most analysis of development policies in countries like Ghana.
AIM
The overall aim of this two day seminar is to provide participants with a broad understanding of how poverty, inequality and development is linked and how policy impacts can be analysed using various types of methodologies, including some that is not so common in social sciences; and to stimulate more research in these areas.
TARGET GROUP
The seminar is primarily intended for faculty that may wish to be updated on issues and methods in development policy and poverty measurement and get new ideas on how to study poverty, inequality and development.
CONTENTS
The seminar will initially provide a brief introduction to why we should be concerned about poverty and inequality, and key concepts and measures. The first day will then focus on the growth, inequality and poverty nexus, the dynamics of poverty and policy options for fighting poverty. Day 2 will provide case studies, highlighting methods of analysing impacts on poverty and inequality. This will include examples of using randomised controlled trials to assess impact and using night time light as proxy for poverty.
TEACHING METHODOLOGY
Teaching will include lectures with discussion, exercises and group work.
COORDINATOR
Dr. Charles Ackah, Senior Research Fellow & Head of Economics Division, Institute of Statistical, Social & Economic Research (ISSER), University of Ghana
MAIN FACILITATORS
· Charles Ackah, Senior Research Fellow & Head of Economics Division, Institute of Statistical, Social & Economic Research (ISSER), University of Ghana
· Ulrika Enemark, Associate Professor, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Denmark
· Felix Asante, Professor & Director, Institute of Statistical, Social & Economic Research (ISSER), University of Ghana
TIME AND PLACE
Date: 19TH – 20TH JANUARY, 2017
Time: 9.00 AM – 1.30 PM
Venue: ISSER, UNIVERSITY OF GHANA
APPLICATION DEADLINE: JANUARY 13, 2017
REGISTRATION
Course Programme: Current Issues in Development Policy and Poverty Measurement
| Day 1: General principles | Day 2: Case studies |
8.30 – 9.00 | Registration | Registration |
9.00 - 10.30 | · Introduction · Why be concerned? Implications of poverty and inequality for social welfare · Overview of measures of poverty and inequality | · Using RCTs in social science research. · Poverty and cash transfers · School-feeding program
|
10.30 – 11.00 | SNACK BREAK | SNACK BREAK |
11.00 – 12.30 | Growth and Poverty Reduction: Pro-poor growth? (Growth, inequality and poverty nexus) | · Why do poor people not buy insurance or save more? · Catastrophic expenditures and NHIS |
12.30 – 13.30 | Policy options for fighting poverty (Pathways to poverty reduction) | · Night time light as a proxy for poverty · Concluding session |
13.30 | LUNCH/DEPARTURE | LUNCH/DEPARTURE |
