The latest in the Policy Research Report series, A Measured Approach to Ending Poverty and Boosting Shared Prosperity: Concepts, Data, and the Twin Goals argues that data and measurement are pivotal to the assessment of the Bank Group’s twin goals, and, thereby, their achievement. It addresses critical questions related to the twin goals: How realistic is attainment of these goals? What uncertainties present the greatest risk to their achievement? How do these specific goals fit within the universe of options for measuring poverty and shared prosperity? And what additional investments are needed to improve data quality and national statistical systems in ways that result in better policies?
The report makes an urgent call for strengthened data systems at the country level to better inform national policy and to help international partners identify gaps and prioritize actions.