--- canonical_url: "https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-9/productivity-to-reduce-poverty-study-of-a-micro-level-institution-in-peru/" title: "Productivity to Reduce Poverty: Study of a Micro-Level Institution in Peru" author: name: "CSLS" url: "https://csls.ca/author/cslc/" date_published: "2026-07-13T06:53:22+00:00" date_modified: "2026-07-13T06:53:22+00:00" post_type: "ipm" summary: "" ipm_issue_period: - "Fall 2004" ipm_keyword: - "communal kitchen" - "developing countries" - "economic growth" - "institutions" - "micro-level" - "Peru" - "poverty" - "productivity" - "women" ipm_research_theme: - "Sectoral and firm-level dynamics" ipm_country_focus: - "International" - "Peru" featured_image: "https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/IPM_50_banner.webp" status: "publish" --- # Productivity to Reduce Poverty: Study of a Micro-Level Institution in Peru Canonical URL: https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-9/productivity-to-reduce-poverty-study-of-a-micro-level-institution-in-peru/ # Productivity to Reduce Poverty: Study of a Micro-Level Institution in Peru [Download full PDF article](https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IPM-Issue-9-6-Pineau.pdf) Cite this article × Cite this article as: Pineau, Pierre-Olivier. 2004. “Productivity to Reduce Poverty: Study of a Micro-Level Institution in Peru.” International Productivity Monitor, No. 9 (Fall 2004): 62–75. https://www.csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-9/productivity-to-reduce-poverty-study-of-a-micro-level-institution-in-peru/ ## Author: - Pierre-Olivier Pineau School of Public Administration, University of Victoria ## IPM Issue 9 Fall 2004 pp. 62–75 ## Related IPM articles [The Relationship between Efficiencies Defenses for Mergers and TFP Growth Robin Shaban Fall 2025 | IPM Issue 49 | pp. 82–102](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-49/the-relationship-between-efficiencies-defenses-for-mergers-and-tfp-growth/) [Adult Skills and Productivity: New Evidence from PIAAC 2023 Dan Andrews, Balázs Égert, Christine de La Maisonneuve Fall 2025 | IPM Issue 49 | pp. 41–63](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-49/adult-skills-and-productivity-new-evidence-from-piaac-2023/) [The Potential Impact of Pro-competitive Regulatory Reforms on Productivity and Growth in Canada Gilbert Cette, Jimmy Lopez, Giuseppe Nicoletti, Océane Vernerey Fall 2025 | IPM Issue 49 | pp. 3–40](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-49/the-potential-impact-of-pro-competitive-regulatory-reforms-on-productivity-and-growth-in-canada/) [Appendix: UK Productivity Growth Rates Across Data Vintages and Studies Josh Martin Spring 2025 | IPM Issue 48 | pp. 65–73](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-48/appendix-uk-productivity-growth-rates-across-data-vintages-and-studies/) [Opportunities and Risks of Artificial Intelligence for Productivity Francesco Filippucci, Peter Gal, Katharina Laengle, Matthias Schief, Filiz Unsal Spring 2025 | IPM Issue 48 | pp. 1–26](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-48/opportunities-and-risks-of-artificial-intelligence-for-productivity/) [Using Ecosystem Accounting to Integrate the Environment in Measures of Multifactor Productivity Carl Obst Fall 2024 | IPM Issue 47 | pp. 87–108](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-47/using-ecosystem-accounting-to-integrate-the-environment-in-measures-of-multifactor-productivity/) [Eroding Natural Capital: An Alternative Explanation for the Secular Decline in Productivity Growth Christina Caron Fall 2024 | IPM Issue 47 | pp. 109–147](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-47/eroding-natural-capital-an-alternative-explanation-for-the-secular-decline-in-productivity-growth/) [How Does Industrial Policy Impact Output, Hours and Productivity? The Canadian Experience Tim Sargent Fall 2024 | IPM Issue 47 | pp. 39–53](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-47/how-does-industrial-policy-impact-output-hours-and-productivity-the-canadian-experience/) [Climate Change and Productivity — An Exploration Dirk Pilat Fall 2024 | IPM Issue 47 | pp. 54–86](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-47/climate-change-and-productivity-an-exploration/) [Could Domestic Industrial Policies, Even With Global Fragmentation, Revive Productivity? Catherine Mann Fall 2024 | IPM Issue 47 | pp. 3–19](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-47/could-domestic-industrial-policies-even-with-global-fragmentation-revive-productivity/) ## Abstract ## Résumé EN FR Copy link Email LinkedIn This article examines the relationship between institutions, productivity, and poverty reduction through a case study of a comedor popular (communal kitchen) in Lima, Peru. Drawing on the World Bank’s poverty reduction literature and community-based organization theory, it argues that micro-level institutions can raise the productivity of poor women in ways consistent with both the voices of the poor and broader economic growth objectives. The study documents the specific mechanisms through which the comedor increases members’ productive capacity and time available for income-generating activities, offering an alternative model of productivity-based poverty reduction. Cet article examine la relation entre les institutions, la productivité et la réduction de la pauvreté à travers une étude de cas d’un comedor popular (cuisine communautaire) à Lima, au Pérou. S’appuyant sur la littérature de la Banque mondiale sur la réduction de la pauvreté et la théorie des organisations communautaires, il soutient que les institutions de niveau micro peuvent accroître la productivité des femmes pauvres d’une manière compatible à la fois avec leur vécu et les objectifs plus larges de croissance économique. L’étude documente les mécanismes spécifiques par lesquels le comedor accroît la capacité productive et le temps disponible pour les activités génératrices de revenus de ses membres, offrant un modèle alternatif de réduction de la pauvreté fondé sur la productivité. [Download full PDF](https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IPM-Issue-9-6-Pineau.pdf)