ABSTRACT
It is widely acknowledged that the pattern of rapidly growing Asian economies is broad based and inclusive of the large part of the county's entire labor force, including youth, women, and the uneducated. The nature of inclusive growth, however, is not well understood. The major purpose of the present volume is to inquire into the processes of inclusive economic growth through which Asian countries have achieved both economic growth and poverty reduction. Rapid growth of the nonfarm sector, including industry and services, that generates jobs for the poor is the main propeller of income growth and poverty reduction. The role of agricultural sector in decreasing poverty is modest in its limited ability to absorb labor in the rural areas. This study has found that the potential of agriculture in poverty reduction could be realized in the so-called high-value revolution in horticulture, livestock, and other high-value products.
