EDUCATION, POVERTY AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN SOUTH ASIA: A PANEL DATA ANALYSIS

The study investigated the linkages between education, poverty and economic growth in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Panel data for the period of 1995-96 to 2012-13 was used. The findings confirmed positive relationship between education and economic growth, while poverty is found to be inversely related to economic growth for these countries of South Asia. The study recommends that each sample country should adopt poverty reduction and education enhancing policies to accelerate her economic growth. To compete with other countries of the region, Pakistan has to raise her average level of education. These countries should design such policies that engage their population in a more productive uses so that the economic growth of these countries may further be enhanced.