Introduction

Investment in transport infrastructure has remained a priority area of attention in developing countries. Conceptually, it may not be difficult to acknowledge that transport infrastructure can contribute to poverty reduction, but there is a shared concern about the limited knowledge base linking infrastructure to poverty reduction. Recently, a number of empirical studies have been undertaken and the results confirm that transport infrastructure does contribute to economic growth. However, the studies also reveal that while improved transport infrastructure may be a necessary condition for poverty reduction, it is by no means a sufficient one. There are instances where transport investments have failed to provide benefits for the poor, despite aggregate gains in productivity and income. At its worst, transport infrastructure appears to have exacerbated existing inequities as well as given rise to a number of negative externalities. The findings of recent research clearly indicate that there is considerable room for making transport infrastructure more pro-poor. This policy brief summarizes the main issues surrounding this concern and provides a range of policy, regulatory, and institutional measures that could help strengthen the impact of transport infrastructure on poverty reduction.

Comment(s)

There are [2] comment(s) for this entry. Post a comment.

1. Anura Widana
   (posted 28 April 2010 / 07:19:56 PM)
   
   Excellent study, hats off to authors!
   Wish to add three more reasons why poor have not benefited from investments on infrastructure.
   a) In the planning process, the poor people were not identified and planning itself was undertaken poor exclusive
   b) The method/s adopted to rehabilitate/ build infrastructure have not been pro-poor. The implementation team decided to get construction work done through private contractors or politicized institutions both of which did not pay attention to poor in the area. Their main interest was to maximize profits for themselves from investments. Hence, poor lost the opportunity to work in construction and thereby could not benefit by way of wages.
   c) The design teams did not include poverty/social but technical specialists only. This made it difficult for implementers to identify poor people, to plan strategies to get them involved and to brain-storm on other projects/activities to be funded so that poor people benefit more from investments.
2. Mohammad Ziaul Ahsan
   (posted 23 April 2006 / 09:49:14 PM)
   
   Transport not only makes econmic development but also saves climate. This book has given us such path to make sustainable development for poverty eradication. Thanking you for your great participation.