Migration, Transfers and Economic Decision Making among Agricultural Households

Paul Winters editor Benjamin Davis editor Calogero Carletto editor

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd

Published:14th Jul '10

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

This hardback is available in another edition too:

Migration, Transfers and Economic Decision Making among Agricultural Households cover

The increasing volume of remittances and public transfers in rural areas of the developing world has raised hopes that these cash inflows may serve as an effective mechanism for reducing poverty in the long term by facilitating investments and raising productivity, particularly in agriculture where market failures are most manifest. This book systematically tests the empirical relationship between cash transfers and productive spending in agriculture amongst rural households in six different countries of the developing world. Together, the studies point to little impact of migration and public and private transfers on agricultural productivity, instead facilitating a transition away from agriculture or to a less labour intensive type of agriculture.

From a policy perspective the studies raise the question of how to maintain rural economies, as migration and social assistance are unlikely to provide a sustainable way to overcome rural poverty in the long run for those that remain in rural areas. For the foreseeable future, agriculture will play an important role in alleviating poverty and sustaining growth in rural areas. Yet, public and private transfers are not providing much of the impetus needed to raise the sector’s productivity. Whether the transfers are invested in agriculture will ultimately depend on the attractiveness of the sector, which is largely determined by the policies of governments and donors.

This book was published as a special issue of the Journal of Development Studies.

ISBN: 9780415495134

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 540g

204 pages