Fuzzy Subset Theory in the Measurement of Poverty

What has not been explored in the traditional measures of poverty is the extensive set of categorical variables that indicate standard of living and are already available from existing survey data. What precluded researchers from deriving poverty and welfare gauges from these data is the difficulty of incorporating these indicators in their measurement. This article offers a new approach to the traditional measures that allow these available data to be readily utilized. While accounting for the multi-dimensionality of the poverty phenomenon, the approach still provides formalism in the use of other variable parallel to and complementary with income and expenditure.poverty, econometric modeling, data and statistics

Empowerment through technology: Gender dimensions of social capital build-up in Maharashtra, India

"This paper explores how and to what extent women and men have benefited from the build-up of social capital in technology uptake, and the role of women in this process. Using a case study on Groundnut Production Technology (GPT) in Maharashtra, India, a systematic documentation of the process by which farmers – both men and women - as well as the whole community became empowered through the build-up of social capital is presented. The focus of the paper is on collective action as a mechanism to stimulate gender-equitable change processes. Our evidence suggests that the technology uptake process was enhanced with the build up of social capital, whereby men and women from all class and caste groups came together for improving their livelihoods. Collective action was enhanced with the increased involvement and participation of women. Strong kinship ties were developed among diverse classes all over the village including landless tribal women, who formed the major labor force for this technology. The paper concludes that social networks played a crucial mediating role in the process of technology uptake. The build-up of social capital played an important role in influencing impacts from the technology because of the ways in which social networks and social relationships facilitated technology dissemination. Gender relations played a significant role in mediating the translation of economic benefits into well being of the individual, the family and community. Finally, it is suggested that further insights into the role of social networks and power relations in the village may be examined in greater detail by establishing the village network architecture, especially marginalized groups." Author's AbstractEmpowerment, Technology adoption, Agricultural growth, Agricultural technology, Gender, Social capital buildup, Social networks, Impact, Collective action,

Production Analysis: Econometric Issues

This article has been presented at the Workshop on Methods for Agricultural Policy Analysis held at the UP Los Baños on August 13-14, 1985. It addresses some econometric issues arising in production analysis. It also discusses the following issues: the model selection, the use of panel data and the bias in nonrandom sampling.agriculture sector, econometric modeling

Production Analysis: Econometric Issues

This article has been presented at the Workshop on Methods for Agricultural Policy Analysis held at the UP Los Baños on August 13-14, 1985. It addresses some econometric issues arising in production analysis. It also discusses the following issues: the model selection, the use of panel data and the bias in nonrandom sampling.agriculture sector, econometric modeling

Uptake of Improved Technologies in the Semi-arid Tropics of West Africa: Why is Agricultural Transformation Lagging Behind?

During the last 3 decades, donors and governments have invested in the development and dissemination of new technologies in the semi-arid tropics of West Africa. Though a wide range of improved technologies has been developed, adoption remains low without a significant impact on crop productivity, rural income and poverty. Agricultural transformation as occurred in East Asia has not yet occurred in the semi-arid tropics of West Africa. This paper uses data from a regional survey of rural households in 3 countries in West Africa (Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger) to identify the determinants of uptake of improved technologies. Limited productivity gain is found to be a major constraint to the uptake of technologies. In addition, poorly functioning institutions, lack of information or poor exposure of farmers to agricultural innovations, and poor functioning or missing markets have also hindered the uptake of many new technologies.institutions, technology, markets, road infrastructure, information, agricultural productivity, International Development,

Impact of ICRISAT Research on Australian Agriculture

Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Gender and Social Capital Mediated Technology Adoption

This study explores gender-differentiated benefits from the social capital buildup in technology uptake, and the decision-making patterns of men and women with respect to production, consumption and household task; and allocation of resources. The background research examined women’s role in developing social capital, and research developed a case study of the groundnut producing areas of Maharashtra in western India, and compared ‘with’ and ‘without’ technology situations, and ‘before’ and ‘after’ situations in relation to the package of groundnut production technology introduced in the region in 1987. The paper addresses three aspects: (1) social networks in technology adoption, (2) the gender-based activity pattern, and (3) build-up of social capital leading to improvements in the welfare of farmers and the farming community with a gender perspective. Available evidence suggests substantial differences in networks of men and women, particularly in composition. The evidence suggests that men belong to more formal networks reflecting their employment or occupation status, while women have more informal networks that are centered on family and kin. Findings show that women who are engaged in agriculture and allied activities develop bonding social capital characterized by strong bonds such as that found among family members or among members of an ethnic group. Men who are engaged in agriculture, on the other hand, develop bridging social capital characterized by weaker, less dense but more crosscutting ties such as with farmers, acquaintances, friends from different ethnic groups and friends of friends. Women’s employment opportunities significantly improved with the introduction of technology. Finally, the study concludes that while technology development and exchange can build upon social capital as a means of empowering women, much more needs to be learned about the approaches that foster build-up of social capital.

Master of Science

thesisDespite advances in the medical field, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) remains a major concern for preterm infants. A hallmark characteristic of BPD is impaired alveolar formation. Contributing to impaired alveolar formation and the development of BPD is respiratory support as well as poor postnatal growth and inadequate nutrition. The contribution of respiratory support has been well characterized in the development of BPD; however, the role that postnatal growth restriction (PGR) plays in impaired alveolar formation and the development of BPD is less understood. Our study focused on determining the downstream molecular mediators of altered essential long-chain fatty acids in alveolar formation, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), and fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4). We hypothesize that PGR decreases circulating essential fatty acids in the rat, in association with increased lung mRNA and protein levels of FABP4, and reduced levels of lung PPARγ protein. To test this hypothesis, PGR was induced in our rat model using variation in litter size by cross-fostering newborn rat pups into rat dams with litter sizes of 16 (PGR) or 8 (control). Rat pup weights were measured every other day from birth to day of life 21 (d21). GC-MS was used to measure serum and lung fatty acid profiles at d21. RT-PCR was used to measure PPARγ, and FABP4 mRNA abundance in the lung at d21. Western blotting was used to measure PPARγ, and FABP4 protein abundance in the lung at d21. PGR reduced serum LA, AA, ALA, and DHA in male rat pups compared to sex-matched controls. PGR significantly decreased PPARγ protein abundance in male rat pups compared to sex-matched controls. PGR also increased FABP4 mRNA, and FABP4 protein abundance in male rat pups compared to sex-matched controls. We conclude that PGR alters serum fatty acid profiles, as well as PPARγ, and FABP4 levels in a sex-divergent manner. The effects that PGR has on serum fatty acid profiles, PPARγ, and FABP4 may have a potential impact on the development of BPD. We speculate that PGR causes alterations in serum fatty acids, which inhibit nutrient responsive signaling pathways that are vital for alveolar formation