Discussion of Improving Knowledge of Changes in Poverty and Inequality

Discussion on improving our knowledge of changes in global poverty and inequality focused on three main questions. First, should international comparisons of living standards across countries use PPP estimates, or market exchange rates to compare the purchasing power of citizens in different countries? Second, if PPP estimates are used, is a single national measure of aggregate PPP adequate to compare poverty across countries? Third, is the (often) high level of income inequality we observe in developed and developing nations bad, in and of itself?