The Relationship Between International Trade And Poverty Alleviation:the Case Of Gabon

Recently there has been an influx of literature which tries to find out relationship between trade and poverty. Right is of the view that more international trade is good for the poor whereas left is quite skeptical of pro-poor effects of trade.The paper provides a comprehensive review of the situation in Gabon, producer and exporter of wood, manganese and oil, the main resource that makes up the National Revenue.The paper finds out that though trade might carry positive affects for the poor in Gabon through growth, such gains are not equally distributed among the rich and the poor.Thus, the paper shows that the results of the populations show a strong adequacy between the evolution of revenues from international trade and changes in the level of poverty. Gabon is one of the few countries in sub-Saharan Africa, classified in the category of middle-income countries (MICs), with a per capita income of about12,707in2010(World Bank), is recorded a level of poverty comparable to that of low-income countries. The Gabonese Survey Evaluation and Monitoring of Poverty (EGEP) revealed a high level of poverty up to one third of the Gabonese population. Significant inequalities are observed between urban and rural areas. Surveys of Economic Policy Research Institute show that45%of the rural population and30%in urban areas live below the poverty line (2011).The paper will try to show some solutions to reduce the level of poverty in Gabon in an efficient way by reduction of tariffs on import product.