Poverty in southern Africa: a literature review and analysis

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Periodical article

Title:	Poverty in southern Africa: a literature review and analysis
Author:	Banjo, Adewale
Year:	2009
Periodical:	Journal of Social Development in Africa (ISSN 1012-1080)
Volume:	24
Issue:	1
Pages:	37-64
Language:	English
Notes:	biblio. refs.
Geographic term:	Southern Africa
Subjects:	poverty Economics, Commerce Africa, Southern--Economic conditions
Abstract:	Based on documentary sources, electronic/web-based information and information derived from direct conversational interviews with development actors of diverse backgrounds, the paper describes and classifies several earlier studies on the subject of poverty in the SADC region, essentially reviewing each author's core contributions and the extent to which their findings illuminate an understanding of the subject matter of poverty and its variegated nature. The review outlines at least fourteen critical causes and reinforcers of poverty and vulnerability in the SADC region, including political instability, civil conflict and bad governance, corruption, human and natural disaster, unfavourable international terms of trade, negative impacts of structural adjustment programmes, unemployment, lack of access to credit facilities, and social problems. It concludes by highlighting a few issues and conditions considered as a sine qua non to 'making poverty history' in southern Africa. Bibliogr., sum. [Journal abstract]