DP5968 The Economic Lives of the Poor

Author(s): Abhijit Banerjee , Esther Duflo

Publication Date: December 2006

Keyword(s): consumption choices , development , poverty

JEL(s): O10 , O15 , O16

Programme Areas: Development Economics , Public Policy

Link to this Page: www.cepr.org/pubs/dps/DP5968.asp.asp

This paper uses survey data from 13 countries to document the economic lives of the poor (those living on less than $2 dollar per day per capita at purchasing power parity) or the extremely poor (those living on less than $1 dollar per day). We describe their patterns of consumption and income generation as well as their access to markets and publicly provided infrastructure. The paper concludes with a discussion of some apparent anomalous choices.