At a macro level, the distribution of the increased income from economic growth
will also have a strong impact on human development. Since poorer households spend a
higher proportion of their income on goods which directly promote better health and
education, economic growth whose benefits are directed more towards the poor will have
a greater impact on human development, via increased food expenditure as well as on
education. For example, Birdsall, Ross and Sabot (1995) show that if the distribution of
income in Brazil were as equal as that in Malaysia, school enrollments among poor
children would be 40% higher.