Essays in empirical economics

Rude, Britta (2023): Essays in empirical economics. Dissertation, LMU München: Faculty of Economics

Abstract

While poverty rates have declined in recent decades, many people are still trapped in poverty with limited opportunities for better living conditions. Moreover, inequality remains high around the globe. Understanding and addressing poverty and inequality is a complex task because it is multidimensional and involves multiple actors. My dissertation contributes to the literature on poverty reduction and inequality by taking an in-depth look at the three channels of Attanasio and Székely's (1999) asset-based framework and relating them to the three actors identified by McKague, Wheeler, and Karnani (2015). It is my hope that my work will shed light on how to address some of the multidimensional aspects of inequality. In Chapter 1, I explore the human capital dimension of poverty and inequality and the potential role governments can play in addressing inequality. Next, in Chapter 2, my thesis ties into the social capital channel of the asset-based framework and analyzes the influence of civil societies. Finally, Chapter 3 speaks to the physical capital channel of the asset-based model and to the potential responsibility of the private sector in addressing poverty and inequality.

• Item Type: Theses (Dissertation, LMU Munich)
• Subjects: 300 Social sciences; 300 Social sciences > 330 Economics
• Faculties: Faculty of Economics
• Language: English
• Date of oral examination: 16. January 2023
• 1. Referee: Poutvaara, Panu
• Signature of the printed copy: 0001/UMC 29569