Fifth a reduction of mass poverty can stimulate healthy economic expansion by acting as a powerful material and psychological incentive to widespread public participation in the development process. By contrast, wide income disparities and substantial absolute poverty can act as powerful material and psychological disincentives to economic progress. They may even create the conditions for an ultimate rejection of progress by the masses, impatient at the pace of
progress or its failure to alter their material circumstances.30 We can conclude, therefore, that promoting rapid economic growth and reducing poverty are not mutually conflicting objectives.31