From the editor

• Author: Ian S. McDonald
• Position: Editor-in-Chief

Like some malignant disease, poverty saps the vitality of countries around the world, affects the health of large elements of their populations, and casts a cloud over their prospects for economic growth. Also, like a disease, poverty is caused by economic, social, and political processes that can be identified and tackled, given the means and the resources. Some recent research studies improve our ability to identify the root causes of poverty and the measures we might take to fight them. At the same time, there is a much greater awareness today of the impact of poverty on economic growth and a more cohesive international effort to tackle the scourge of poverty through improved education, infrastructure development, and more focused investment. This issue of Finance & Development takes a special look at the topic of "How We Can Help the Poor" and examines a number of fresh approaches to poverty and the coordinated international effort that is addressing the problem.

With our increased understanding of the causes of poverty and how to fight it, Nora Lustig and Nicholas Stern point out, real progress is now possible. Dani Rodrik of...