Equity, Growth and Insurrection: Liberalisation and the Welfare Debate in Contemporary Sri Lanka

David Dunham and Sisira Jayasuriya
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David Dunham: School of Economics, La Trobe University

No 1998.11, Working Papers from School of Economics, La Trobe University

Abstract: This paper focuses on economic consequences of policy reforms and their social and political impacts. Our central argument is the following: (a) contrary to many assertions in the immediate post-reform period, economic liberalisation in Sri Lanka had a significant impact on both household and regional inequality, though not one that was reflected in the conventional statistical measures that informed and dominated policy; (b) the changes in wealth distribution were related to the altered pay-offs associated with certain assets (especially education) and people's access to them; (c) even if they were not reflected in conventional statistical measures, affected population groups were intensely aware of these changes in the distribution of relative wealth; and (d) their perceptions of increased inequality were magnified by a widening gap between expectations and the opportunities that were open to them.

Keywords: Equity; Economic Growth; Social Welfare (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 20 pages
Date: 1998
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Related works:
Journal Article: Equity, Growth and Insurrection: Liberalization and the Welfare Debate in Contemporary Sri Lanka (2000)
Working Paper: Equity, Growth and Insurrection: Liberalisation and the Welfare Debate in Contemporary Sri Lanka (1998)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:trb:wpaper:1998.11

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