Handbook of BRICS and Emerging Economies

There are considerable variations in the extent to which growth has improved the position of the poor. In all cases except one the incomes of the poorest have improved over the periods for which data on distribution are available. However, in all cases there is some evidence that inequality has tended to increase. The relative importance of mineral production appears to be associated with higher levels of inequality. An important question for mineral-exporting countries is how to ensure that national mineral wealth is used to support pro-poor investment. In view of the observed tendency for decreases in the relative importance of agriculture to exacerbate income differentials, some pro-poor policy interventions are required to redress the balance.