This paper analyses poverty reduction in Bhutan between two points in time -- 2003 and 2007 -- from a multidimensional perspective. The measures estimated include consumption expenditure as well as other indicators which are directly (when possible) or indirectly associated to valuable functionings, namely, health, education, access to electricity, safe water, improved sanitation, enough room per person in dwelling, access to roads and land ownership. Interestingly, most of these indicators have been identified as sources of happiness in the 2007 Gross National Happiness Survey. Twelve different measures are estimated with a variety of values for the different parameters involved for robustness analysis. Also, estimates are bootstrapped creating 95% confidence intervals. We find that over the study period there was an unambiguous reduction in multidimensional poverty regardless of the indicators' weights, deprivation cutoffs and identification criterion of the poor. This reduction was mainly led by a reduction in the proportion of the poor which was accompanied by a reduction in the intensity of poverty among those who were less intensively poor, although not among those who were more intensively poor. Rather than accomplishing this poverty reduction by improving achievements in one or two indicators, there were significant reductions in several deprivations, especially in access to roads, electricity, water, sanitation, and education. We also find that when income alone is used to target the poor, inclusion errors are marginal but exclusion errors are sizeable. Despite Bhutan's significant progress, challenges remain as poverty is still high in rural areas. A multidimensional measure in the lines proposed in this paper can prove useful for monitoring poverty reduction, prioritizing groups and evaluating upon investment.

The overarching objective of Bhutan’s Tenth Five-Year Plan (10FYP)—which is also the Royal Government of Bhutan’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP)—is to sustain this trajectory and reduce poverty further. Political stability, prudent economic management, and development of the hydropower sector delivered robust economic growth during the 9FYP. Favorable economic performance was underpinned by sound macroeconomic policies. The 10FYP forecasts an average fiscal deficit of about 3 percent of GDP, the same as in the 9FYP and in line with the Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB)'s strategic fiscal policy goals.

This Joint Staff Advisory Note focuses on the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) Progress Report for Bhutan. Bhutan’s PRSP aims to galvanize the poverty reduction efforts of the Royal Government of Bhutan, building on past achievements. It targets an average growth rate of 8¼ percent during 2004/05–2006/07, which is about 1¾ percentage points above that experienced during the Eighth Plan and the first two years of the Ninth Plan. Pushing the economy to this higher growth trajectory will be a challenge; however, some increase in the growth rate can be expected over the medium term.

This paper discusses Bhutan's Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP). The Royal Government of Bhutan has initiated the PRSP process as part of broader ongoing efforts to combat poverty. The main objective of the PRSP process is to strengthen the strategic framework for poverty reduction, improve donor coordination, and build support for new initiatives in public expenditure management and poverty monitoring and evaluation. The envisaged process builds directly on the Ninth Five-Year Plan (Ninth Plan).