World Bank Development Policies - and Poverty Alleviation in Africa.

Abstract

Contemporary Africa, poverty is widespread and much effort has been devoted.to its alleviation. How-do World Bankpolieies affect .the outcomes? What are tile repercussions of these policies on the stability of African economies? This paper addresses these questions through the political economy approach and an analytical survey of the literature_ Although Africa is, the focus of study, country—specific; data are also used where necessary in order to strengthen our arguments. From the adduced evidence, the World Bank supported adjustment reforms exacerbate instead of reducing poverty as they deal with growth-related problems at the expense of human-centred, or development associated measures. 'This has created concerns that the reforms are an ineffective poverty alleviation instrument.