In Tanzania, this has been the thrust of the Poverty Reduction Strategy and the National Strategy
for Growth and Reduction of Poverty 2005-2010 (Mkukuta). But there is evidence that real
growth over the past decade in Tanzania has not been reflected in rapid reduction in poverty
rates. This pessimistic assessment forms part of a wider set of concerns about the relationship
between growth and individual well-being. The 2007 Poverty and Human Development Report
(PHDR) for Tanzania highlighted the fact that real GDP growth had reached historically high
levels over 2000-2006, but that the findings from the Views of the People Survey in March/April
2007 indicated that ‘few adult Tanzanians think they are enjoying the fruits of economic growth’
(PHDR, page 79). ‘In all income groups … more people perceive falling rather than rising living
standards’ (PHDR, page 82).
The growth/poverty nexus is currently much discussed. In particular, it has been addressed in
the recent Interim Report to REPOA by Mkenda, Luvanda and Ruhinduka (2010). In this paper,
we make extensive reference to this Interim Report and to the earlier paper by Hoogeveen and
Ruhinduka (2009), in which they discuss developments between 2000 and 2007, the period on
which we focus, using data from the 2000/2001 and 2007 Household Budget Surveys. Like the
authors of the Interim Report, we believe strongly in the ‘imperative of interrogating the data’
(page 21 of the Interim Report). The use of data to assess economic and social performance
is one of the main themes of this paper; the second is the design of indicators to assess
performance. The experience of the past decade leads one to consider not only the extent of
substantive progress but also the way in which social objectives are translated into concrete
measures and indicators. In this way, the paper may contribute to the establishment of goals
for the next stages of the MDGs and the MKUKUTA process.