Ethical Issues in Poverty Alleviation: Agents, Institutions and Policies

Abstract

In this chapter we introduce the topics of this volume. We start by distinguishing and discussing three issues that are of importance for an ethical reflection on poverty alleviation: the definitions of poverty and poverty alleviation, the normative background theories of poverty alleviation and the identification of the agents and institutions of poverty alleviation. After discussing these we will go on to present a brief overview of the chapters in this volume.