Can the Poor Influence Policy: Participatory Poverty Assessment in the Developing World, by Caroline Robb. World Bank Directions in Development Series 1999 148 pages. US$22.00 Order via books@worldbank.org "The report is divided into three main parts. The first part examines the status of the PPAs. The second part analyses their impact. The third part discusses the good practices emerging from the PPAs. Two main messages emerge form the study: 1. The PPAs have consistently shown that poor people can identify different dimensions of poverty other than those usually used in policy analysis (income and consumption). These new dimensions include vulnerability, physical and social isolation, security, self-respect, powerlessness and dignity. 2. Experience with the PPAs indicates that where there is a broad policy dialogue on poverty that includes civil society groups, the constituency of reform is widened, ownership is increased, and the resulting policy is more likely to be implemented" (Posted 20/01/02)