When Do Rural Roads Benefit the Poor and How? An In-depth Analysis Based on Case Studies

Abstract

Roads are clearly a critical enabling condition for improving living conditions in rural areas. However, the distribution of socioeconomic benefits resulting from a rural road is a separate issue, and there are no guarantees or inherent mechanisms to ensure that these benefits will be distributed equitably between the poor and the nonpoor in communities. In the rural road projects studied, their ability to affect the distribution of assets and the skills capacity of the poor was limited and largely outside their scope. Nevertheless, recognizing how assets are distributed is important both for understanding how benefits will accrue and for planning complementary measures to enable those who lack assets also to benefit from the investment. Given the right complementary activities, projects can broaden livelihood opportunities. The poor need support to make use of the opportunities that rural roads may bring. This suggests that integrated projects are needed to tackle poverty effectively.