INFANT-MORTALITY AND PUBLIC-POLICY

Arguing that conventional indices of poverty (such as the head-count r atio) do not capture all aspects of deprivation that large segments of the population experience in developing countries, the present paper concentrates on progress in reducing infant and child mortality, and t he underlying factors. The role of public policy in reducing infant an d child mortality is emphasised. While income matters, (independently) aspects of maternal care and access to certain basic health services also have a significant role. In particular, female literacy (as a pro xy for mother's literacy) has a substantial negative effect. In the co ntext of the concern for cost-effectiveness of public expenditure duri ng structural adjustment, a case is made for reordering of priorities in educational and health expenditure, and for specific policy interve ntions designed to promote female literacy.