An Employment-Targeted Economic Program for Kenya

The government of Kenya has committed itself to generating 500,000 new jobs per year at least through 2007. But a very high proportion of Kenyans who are currently working full-time are nonetheless unable to support themselves above the poverty level, let alone support their families. In other words, in Kenya today, low unemployment alone will not solve the problem of very high poverty levels.

In this full-length study, commissioned by the United Nations Development Programme, PERI scholars Robert Pollin, James Heintz, and Mwangi wa Githinji explore various means to create high-quality employment in Kenya, including investments in agriculture and infrastructure, reforming monetary policy and making significant changes to the regulation of Kenya’s financial sector.