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Risk, Poverty, and Human Development: What Do We Know, What Do We Need to Know?

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Risk, Shocks, and Human Development

Abstract

Households in developing countries face many different sources of risk, shaping their lives. Climatic risks, economic fluctuations, illness, crime, and other sources of risk leave these households vulnerable to severe hardship. This chapter has three objectives: first, it aims to present a conceptual framework to understand the links between risk, poverty, vulnerability, and human development. Secondly, it will take stock of the nature of the evidence available. Finally, it offers directions for future work with relevance for policy.

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Authors
  1. Stefan Dercon
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Human Development Report Office of UNDP, USA

    Ricardo Fuentes-Nieva (policy specialist) (policy specialist)

  2. UNDP’s Human Development Report Office, USA

    Papa A. Seck (statistics specialist) (statistics specialist)

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© 2010 United Nations Development Programme

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Dercon, S. (2010). Risk, Poverty, and Human Development: What Do We Know, What Do We Need to Know?. In: Fuentes-Nieva, R., Seck, P.A. (eds) Risk, Shocks, and Human Development. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230274129_2

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