Economics of Poverty and Inequality

In 2009, with the support of a generous donor who has chosen to remain anonymous, IIEP launched the Ultra-poverty Initiative (now the Economics of Poverty and Inequality). Since then, there have been over 50 IIEP events on poverty and human development, with many more to come. The Initiative is coordinated by James E. Foster and Stephen C. Smith with several other GW faculty participating and engaging in research and policy analysis on extreme (or ultra-) poverty in the developing world. IIEP’s initiative on the Economics of Poverty and Inequality focuses on basic and applied research, organizing conferences, collaborating with international organizations, and both technical and policy publications. 

One of this initiative’s overarching themes is multidimensional measurement and analysis of poverty and poverty programs. Former IIEP Director James Foster’s influential work on multidimensional measurement provided the underpinnings of the UNDP Multidimensional Poverty Index. Professor Foster applies this work to measurement in several fields including educational quality, women’s well-being, health, nutrition, and corruption. In addition, IIEP faculty also work on the design and impact of multidimensional poverty programs, multidimensional screening of poverty program eligibility, and multidimensional poverty trap analysis. IIEP co-hosts an ongoing series on Viewing Multidimensional Poverty From Many Angles Multidimensional Poverty Seminar Series with the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report Office (HDRO).

Please contact iiep@gwu.edu for more information.