The Dynamics of Poverty and the Effectiveness of Poland's Safety Net (1993 96)

Abstract

The Policy Research Working Paper Series disseminates the findings of work in progress to encourage the ex-hbange of ideas aibout developmnent issues. An objective of theseries is toget the findings outquickly, even if the presentationsare less thani loilN polished. The papers carry the namzes of the authors and shouild be cited accordingly. The findings, interpretations, and c onchlsions expressed in this paper are entirely those of the authors. 7hey d(o no(lt nrecessarily represenit the view of the World Ba1ok, its txecutiv'e [)ircctlors. or the countrics they represent.

Do family resources matter? Educational attainment during transition in Poland*

“…This is true even after controlling for other factors such as the number of children or unemployment of the parents. Moreover, we know from analyses of income inequality that the most deprived families are those living in rural areas, with a large number of children and unemployed members (see e.g., Golinowska, 1997; Okrasa, 1999a and 1999b) – characteristics which our estimation revealed to affect educational prospects negatively. Thus, children growing up in rural areas seem to cumulate unfavourable characteristics with regard to their educational prospects.…”

“…From the literature we know that the risk of experiencing poverty is strongly affected by the level of education achieved. For university graduates, the risk of falling into poverty is three times lower than that for other households (Okrasa, 1999a). As Golinowska (1998) states, the overall rise in income inequality across Polish families, accompanied by increasing costs of education, has induced the fear that young people will face increasingly unequal opportunities.…”

The Poverty Reduction Capacity of Private and Public Transfers in Transition

“…Okrasa (1999a and1999b) has looked at social benefits in Poland and found a general positive impact on redistribution, a positive but moderate impact on reducing the poverty spell and a positive impact on exiting poverty with all these effects being different depending on the household prototype considered. Dabalen et al (2008) The evaluation of public transfers in transitional economies has also its own peculiarities.…”

The Poverty Reduction Capacity of Public and Private Transfers in Transition

“…Van de Walle (2004) followed in the steps of this last paper to test the public safety net in Vietnam and found a very marginal role of the social safety net in protecting people from poverty or promoting an exit from poverty. Okrasa (1999a and1999b) has looked at social benefits in Poland and found a general positive impact on redistribution, a positive but moderate impact on reducing the poverty spell and a positive impact on exiting poverty with all these effects being different depending on the household prototype considered. Dabalen et al (2008) have looked at a social assistance program in Albania (Ndihma Ekonomike) and tested the poverty implications as compared to the old-age pension program using the pooled 2002 and 2005 living standards surveys.…”