Research Theme: Asset Building and Pathways from Poverty

Assets can play a key role in helping households move out of poverty. In some cases safety nets, such as food aid or cash transfers, which help households stay above critical thresholds in times of need, are the most appropriate. In other cases, households that are already below the poverty line need help in climbing their way out. Policy reform, such as land titling, helps to protect households' assets and allows them to make more productive long term decisions. Other government interventions, such as aid programs, conditional transfers, and educational programs help give poor households the tools they need to get on a successful pathway out of poverty. The goal is to protect existing assets and create an environment that allows for further asset accumulation over time, giving households the resources they need to manage shocks and stay out of poverty. AMA researchers are currently looking at the implementation of different policies, including transfer programs and land tenure reform, to help make recommendations on how these programming interventions might have a greater impact for poor households.

Projects

• Cash Transfers, Risk Management and Asset Accumulation: Policy evaluation for rural poverty reduction in Nicaragua
• Pathways for Ensuring Access to Assets: Land tenure reform and beyond (Liberia and Uganda)

Publications

• coming soon

Links

• coming soon