Suchergebnisse

The study explores the spatial patterns of poverty in Pakistan
through two dimensions: asset accumulation and basic needs. For this
purpose Pakistan Standard of Living Measurement 08-09 is employed to
construct an Asset Index and a Basic Needs index, at a district level,
through the use of household level indicators. The study finds a clear
north south divide, with particular concentration of better off
districts in the north east of the country. Additionally, regression
analysis is carried out to help identify the macro level factors
contributing towards the observed pattern. Results reveal
infrastructural and industrial development to be significant factors
behind a district's well-being. This indicates that public policy
directed towards developing deprived districts should be cantered on
these factors, specifically expanding road networks, and incentives for
industrial development in those districts. JEL classifications: I32, O53
Keywords: Measurement and Analysis of Poverty, District Level Analysis,
Pakistan

The cornerstone of fiscal federalism is to empower provinces
through fiscal decentralisation, thereby reducing the friction between
them. This is achieved if the distribution of resources between
provinces is judicial and equitable, reducing the biases and divides
amongst the provinces and leading to a stronger federation. In Pakistan,
the National Finance Commission (NFC) awards are constituted to decide
the share of the provinces in the federal revenues and to redistribute
this share to the provinces. Over the years, there has been a gradual
increase in federal shares. The federal government has also stretched
itself into several matters that fall under the provincial purview (for
instance roads, irrigation, culture and tourism and rural development)
[Shah (1997)]. With the aimed devolution of power from the centre to the
local government, it is imperative that these provincial governments
have adequate finances to effectively carry out the subjects that fall
under their domain. Moreover, there has been no serious shift in
resource distribution amongst the provinces themselves, in spite of the
disparities in economic and social development as well as varying
political and security situations. This has, in turn, contributed in
aggravating the differences between provinces over time, bringing into
question the success of the NFC awards in fostering
integration.