Tulane University has announced a five-year, $4.9 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in support of a project at its CEQ Institute that will study ways to reduce inequality and poverty in developing countries.

Established in May, the institute aims to develop policy tools for evaluating the consistency and effectiveness of tax collection and government spending with respect to global equity goals. Researchers also will develop an information system to monitor the progress of taxation and government spending in achieving those goals. "For example," said institute director Nora Lustig, "have taxes become more progressive? Is health care reaching more of the poorest? Do the poor have greater access to tertiary education?"

In partnership with the Inter-American Dialogue and the Center for Global Development, the project will disseminate its findings through a communications and advocacy program. "The idea is to influence policy in the right place at the right time," said Lustig.