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The research proposes to contribute to the debate on pro-poor growth, and presents new empirical evidence for Burkina Faso, based on utility and capabilities. First, the comparative analysis of pro-poor growth shows that the monetary and non-monetary dimensions produce very similar results, independently of the implementation of «partial» or «full approach» measures. Thus, over the period 1994-2003, in spite of a small increase of poverty in terms of utility and capabilities, national economic growth was pro-poor, insofar as the poor were proportionally less affected than the non-poor by declines in expenditures and capabilities. Correlatively, at the national rate and in the rural sector, the assumption of a monetary pro-poor growth in absolute terms is unverified – contrary to what certain studies have indicated – whereas a consensus seems to prevail as for the anti-poor monetary growth in the cities, in absolute and relative terms. These divergences are explained by different methodological options. Second, this dual approach of pro-poor growth makes it possible to test the robustness of certain postulated relations between poverty, economic growth and inequality. In this respect, the comparative analysis, mobilizing spatial econometrics, confirms two stylized facts. On the one hand, the provincial growth-elasticity of monetary or capabilities poverty is much lower when the initial index Gini (monetary or non-monetary) is high. In addition, whereas the evolution of the welfare indicator is an important determinant of the variation of poverty during the period, the changes of the expenditures and capacities' distribution also constitute a significant factor. Moreover, the comparative analysis shows that the effect of the growth on monetary or non-monetary poverty reduction is stronger when the initial rate of development is high. Ultimately, the approach of pro-poor growth in terms of capabilities can contribute not only to check the robustness of the stipulated dynamics of the process of monetary economic growth, but also can be a good proxy in the absence of reliable information on the monetary living standard of households.JEL Classification: I12, I32

International bank credit is a major way for emerging countries to finance development and growth. The aim of this article is to study the impact of the Basel capital requirements in developed countries on the nature of the bank foreign claims towards emerging debtors. We find evidence that Basel I makes developed countries reduce the credit supply but to increase short term claims in foreign currencies. The Asian crisis is the proof that the latter are a very destabilising source of funds. Then, we argue, with a simulation of the IRB models, that the foreign bank borrowing conditions for emerging debtors will not be improved by Basel II.JEL Classification: F33 ; F34 ; G28

Based on static analysis, a number of studies argue that forming a regional trade agreement (RTA) is more likely to raise welfare if member countries are “natural trading partners,” while other studies claim the opposite. This paper considers the argument from a dynamic viewpoint by examining the impact of trade with Japan, North America and the EU on technology diffusion and total factor productivity (TFP) in Jordan, Korea and Mexico. Using industry-level data, we show that: i) technology diffusion and productivity gains tend to be regional: Jordan, Korea, and Mexico tend to benefit mainly from trade with the EU, Japan, and North America respectively; and ii) the dynamic version of the “natural trading partners” hypothesis seems to hold.JEL Classification: F02, F13, F15, F43, O39

In this paper we analyze rural-to-urban migration in Less Developed Countries (LDCs). Our main assumption is that such migration can arise from the lack of available modern urban consumer goods in rural areas. Taking this hypothesis as our starting point, we use a dual economy model where the individuals' target is utility maximization and we show that although the Todaro paradox might hold, Harris and Todaro's prescription to stop migration is not necessarily adequate. Our analysis thus reveals that an appropriate urban consumer goods supply policy in rural areas could stop migration and solve related urban unemployment problems.JEL classification: R23, D11, C62.