The Psychology of Poverty Alleviation
Challenges in Developing Countries

Explores the psychological insights needed to establish successful poverty-alleviation programs in developing countries without destructive conflict.

William Ascher (Author)

9781108840361, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 20 August 2020

348 pages, 2 b/w illus. 9 tables
16 x 23.5 x 2 cm, 0.55 kg

'The text offers a practical and useful set of policy recommendations, not only to mitigate poverty but also to promote sustainable economic growth, reduce hunger, and achieve inclusivity across all groups … Recommended.' R. M. Ramazani, Choice Magazine

In order to design, enact, and protect poverty alleviation policies in developing countries, we must first understand the psychology of how the poor react to their plight, and not just the psychology of the privileged called upon for sacrifice. This book integrates social and psycho-dynamic psychology, economics, policy design, and policy-process theory to explore ways to follow through on successful poverty-alleviation initiatives, while averting destructive conflict. Using eight case studies across Latin America, Southeast Asia, and South Asia, William Ascher examines successes and failures in helping the poor through affirmative action, cash transfers, social-spending targeting, subsidies, and regional development. In doing so, he demonstrates how social identities, attributions of deservingness, and perceptions of the policy process shape both the willingness to support pro-poor policies and the conflict that emerges over distributional issues.

Part I Introduction
1. The Challenges of Conflict Sensitive Poverty Alleviation
2. Political Economy Considerations Part II The Underlying Psychology
3. Identity, Attributions, Deservingness Judgments, and Hostility
Part III Lessons from Pro-Poor Policy Instruments
4. Conditional Cash Transfers
5. Social-Sector Spending Targeting the Poor
6. Pro-Poor Subsidies and the Problem of Leakage
7. Affirmative Action
8. Regional Development Targeting the Poorest Areas
Part IV Overcoming Obstacles in the Policy Process
9. How the Wealthy React to Pro-Poor-Labeled Initiatives
10. Lessons and Conclusions.

Subject Areas: Comparative politics [JPB], Politics & government [JP]