The socioeconomics of international migration decisions and outcomes : exploring the Nigeria – Italy Migration Corridor through a capability-based migration framework

The number of international migrants has been rising since the last decade. However, a predominant number of people are non-migrants. The increasing migration flows nevertheless have attracted the interest of the research community. Currently, there is a vast literature on the trend, drivers, and developmental impacts of international migration. In this dissertation, I argue that there is also a need to study why some people migrate, and others do not migrate and why some migrants contribute to their households’ welfare while others do not. These additional questions can be addressed by researching the socioeconomics of migration decisions and outcomes of a specific group of people before and after migration. The neoclassical migration theories upon which previous research is based may be inadequate to undertake this comprehensive investigation. Hence, I adopted a novel capability-based migration framework and addressed three research questions. 1) how do capabilities influence migration decisions; 2) what are the capability-depriving constraints faced by migrants in the host countries, and 3) how do migrants contribute to capability improvement in their home countries? I explored Nigeria to Italy migration corridor and collected data from Nigerians before migration and after migration to Italy. A mixed-method approach was adopted in the research, including systematic review, secondary data analysis and, qualitative and quantitative analyses of primary data. The dissertation is divided into eight chapters. A summary of the chapters is as follows. Chapter 1 critically reviewed the neoclassical migration theories and conceptualizes the aspiration-capability framework as a prospect in migration theory. Chapter 2 used the capability-based migration framework to explain mobility and immobility decisions. Chapter 3 investigates how the possession of insufficient capabilities may lead to wrong migration decisions. Chapter 4 demonstrates how to enhance access to information capabilities using a formal source of information - information campaigns. Chapter 5 examines the integration experience and well-being of Nigerian asylum seekers in Italy. Chapter 6 investigate the contributions of international migrants to rural development in developing countries. Chapter 7 focuses on the impact of international migration on food security in Nigeria. Generally, the dissertation is unique and timely. It brings knowledge on the complete migration trajectory of a particular group, looking at the decision stage, the movement, the arrival, and the contribution. These holistic analyses of migration dynamics have lacked in migration literature. The thesis also provides a relevant methodological contribution since, at the moment, there is not yet a well-established methodology to describe a holistic migration-experience for a group of migrants or procedure for data collection of such cases. The critical contribution of this dissertation in migration literature is recognizing that migrants have human agency and capabilities. I argue that migrants should not be seen as economic tools but as human beings who desire to contribute to their families’ well-being. Hence, they need to be accorded fundamental human rights, empathy, and protection. This dissertation maintains that migrants’ achievements and contributions can be explained through the lens of expectations, constraints, and integration realities in host countries

Exploring the potential and constraints of smallholder aquaculture in marginalized saline areas in Pakistan

Pakistan is the sixth-most populous country in the world, with a population of approximately 225 million. More than 20% of the population lives below the national poverty level (World Bank, 2021). •Fishery and aquaculture have the potential to significantly reduce poverty and food insecurity in Pakistan (Rehman et al., 2019).•Pakistan ranks low in global aquaculture production (​FAO, 2022) -aquaculture produced 162,462 tons of fish in 2020. Over the past five years, the aquaculture sector has grown at a rate of approximately 1.5%.•Because of the arid and semi-arid climate, rainfall is scarce and irregular in most of the areas and contributes to salinity and waterlogging -salinity in the soil makes land unsuitable for growing crops: an opportunity for practicing “inland saline aquaculture” on lands not suitable for crop cultivation -11.1 million acres (4,49 million ha). •Despite the huge potential of saline aquaculture, the characteristics of the production systems in Pakistan are still unknown due to data deficiency, making it difficult to understand investment needs that will help in the sector's development

APPLICATION OF MATHEMATICAL INVENTORY MODELS TO DIGITAL MULTIPRODUCT STOCK MANAGEMENT OF SOME PHARMACEUTICAL STORES IN LAGOS, NIGERIA

Decision-making using accurate data have been a core challenge to Pharmaceutical retail store owners in Nigeria. This is as a result of slow adoption of digital inventory management solutions and the non-recognition of the importance of accuracy of data gathering in cost and decision optimization or lack of knowledge of the availability of this solution or its usage. It is also common knowledge that digital technology adoption for retail business owners in Africa is low compared to its adoption in the western world. Looking at their data and the volume of research work in the western world on digital inventory management,one would realize that data driven decision-making can only be possible through adoption of digital inventory solutions. This study will review the process that pharmaceutical stores in Lagos adopt in procuring a digital solution to manage their multi-product retail management system. This study seeks to determine the suitable digital solutions adopted in selected pharmaceutical stores and how it a�ects inventory management, pricing and cost optimization, demand and decision optimization. The data collected from the selected pharmaceutical stores was analysed using the "Economic Order Quantity Model and Quantity Discount Model". Also the data was used in building a decision tree that would help pharmaceutical store owners in making right business decisions. The study will help similar business owners in understanding the importance of digital inventory solutions, its bene�ts and how it will help them optimize their cost. The data collection will be limited to ten top high demand products from �ve pharmaceutical stores in Lagos, Nigeria

Exploring the Potential and Constraints of Smallholder Aquaculture in Marginalized Saline Areas in Pakistan

Aquaculture is still a relatively young activity in Pakistan, but there is immense potential for the sector to develop. Aquaculture has been identified as an alternative livelihood source for many rural farming households living in areas with brackish groundwater. Due to the arid and semi-arid climate of Pakistan, which results in scarce and irregular rainfall, several rural areas are affected by salinity and waterlogging. It is estimated that more than 6 million hectares of Pakistani soil are affected by salinity. Salinity in the soil has caused many lands to be unsuitable for growing crops, and thousands of hectares have been abandoned. As an alternative livelihood, aquaculture can be adopted on such saline lands that are not suitable for crop cultivation. However, there is still limited research and understanding of the constraints and development opportunities for small-holder saline aquaculture farmers in marginalized saline areas of Pakistan. Abstract accepted and presented at WAS2022 – published in the book of abstracts at pag 605

The Impact of Changes in Regulatory and Market Environment on Sustainability of Wine Producers: A Structural Equation Model

We explore the farmers' perception of how different external drivers of changes in farming activities could lead to sustainability practices among wine producers. The general assumption is that regulatory and market forces can change the production strategies of wine producers, which could eventually lead to the adoption of sustainability practices. We presented the percentage sustainability practice (PSP) as a novel way of measuring sustainability. We developed a structural equation model (SEM) with 13 hypotheses to test our assumption for the wine supply chain in Tuscany (Italy). Among the market forces, we found that wine growers perceived access to credit to have a significant positive association with sustainability practices. We also found that the perception of change in regulatory instruments such as environmental regulation and Common Agriculture Policy can lead to sustainable practice if they improve access to credit. Our research provides evidence for medium-large scale wine producers, emphasising their role as carriers of innovation in the movement towards sustainable wine production

Opinion and use of contraceptives among medical students of the University of Nigeria, Enugu campus

Background: Non-use or poor usage of any form of contraception increases the chances of unwanted pregnancies, abortion and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV/AIDS occurring with attendant problems. The knowledge of, and the appropriate use of contraceptives will reduce the prevalence of unwanted pregnancies and unsafe induced abortion as well as limit incidence of STIs and associated complications.Objectives: Determination of the opinion and use of contraceptives; to examine the socio-demographics, knowledge and attitude towards contraception and contraceptive use among medical undergraduates in the University of Nigeria, Enugu campus.Methodology: A cross-sectional study. Stratified probability sampling technique was employed using the different medical classes as strata. Individuals were subsequently chosen at random until a statistically determined sample size was achieved. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 20) software was utilized for data analysis.Results: Our study found a statistically significant relationship between sex and contraceptive use. It was also statistically deduced that knowledge of possible contraceptives failure negatively impacts on opinion with regards to contraceptive use.Conclusion: Positive opinion towards contraceptives will go a long way to encourage proper and effective contraceptives use. This can be achieved by utilizing counseling by health workers.Keywords: Opinion, use, contraceptives, medical students

Production system and challenges of saline aquaculture in Punjab and Sindh provinces of Pakistan

IntroductionLack of data about saline aquaculture in Pakistan has curtailed informed policy and investment decision making resulting in undervaluation of and underinvestment in the sector. Therefore, saline aquaculture in Pakistan is today an underdeveloped sector despite its potential as an alternative livelihood for the country's rural farmers. This study represents one of the initial exploratory investigations into saline aquaculture systems in Pakistan, aiming to comprehend the existing sectoral landscape, production challenges, post-harvest constraints, and the associated capacity and investment needs.MethodsThe study employed purposive sampling to survey 121 low-income saline aquaculture farmers across five districts of Southern Punjab and Sindh provinces. The analysis was carried out using descriptive statistics.ResultsThe results revealed that the saline aquaculture sector is predominantly male-centric, with agricultural land utilized for both agriculture and aquaculture purposes. Ponds, which usually serve multiple functions, focus primarily on carp production, but adherence to good management practices remains limited. Farmers face various challenges, including the high costs of feed and seeds, freshwater scarcity, inadequate technical knowledge, and marketing issues.Discussion and conclusionThis study serves as a foundational assessment, addressing data and information gaps crucial for supporting the sustainable development of saline aquaculture in Pakistan. To facilitate such development, the study recommends initiating programs to strengthen technical skills in saline aquaculture, together with the establishment of hatcheries and breeding stations for saline-tolerant species, aiming to reduce dependence on freshwater species in saline pond environments

Opinion and use of contraceptives among medical students of the University of Nigeria, Enugu campus

Background: Non-use or poor usage of any form of contraception increases the chances of unwanted pregnancies, abortion and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV/AIDS occurring with attendant problems. The knowledge of, and the appropriate use of contraceptives will reduce the prevalence of unwanted pregnancies and unsafe induced abortion as well as limit incidence of STIs and associated complications. Objectives: Determination of the opinion and use of contraceptives; to examine the socio-demographics, knowledge and attitude towards contraception and contraceptive use among medical undergraduates in the University of Nigeria, Enugu campus. Methodology: A cross-sectional study. Stratified probability sampling technique was employed using the different medical classes as strata. Individuals were subsequently chosen at random until a statistically determined sample size was achieved. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 20) software was utilized for data analysis. Results: Our study found a statistically significant relationship between sex and contraceptive use. It was also statistically deduced that knowledge of possible contraceptives failure negatively impacts on opinion with regards to contraceptive use. Conclusion: Positive opinion towards contraceptives will go a long way to encourage proper and effective contraceptives use. This can be achieved by utilizing counseling by health workers

THE SOCIOECONOMICS OF INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION DECISIONS AND OUTCOMES Exploring the Nigeria ? Italy Migration Corridor through a capability-based migration framework

The number of international migrants has been rising since the last decade. However, a predominant number of people are non-migrants. The increasing migration flows nevertheless have attracted the interest of the research community. Currently, there is a vast literature on the trend, drivers, and developmental impacts of international migration. In this dissertation, I argue that there is also a need to study why some people migrate, and others do not migrate and why some migrants contribute to their households’ welfare while others do not. These additional questions can be addressed by researching the socioeconomics of migration decisions and outcomes of a specific group of people before and after migration. The neoclassical migration theories upon which previous research is based may be inadequate to undertake this comprehensive investigation. Hence, I adopted a novel capability-based migration framework and addressed three research questions. 1) how do capabilities influence migration decisions; 2) what are the capability-depriving constraints faced by migrants in the host countries, and 3) how do migrants contribute to capability improvement in their home countries? I explored Nigeria to Italy migration corridor and collected data from Nigerians before migration and after migration to Italy. A mixed-method approach was adopted in the research, including systematic review, secondary data analysis and, qualitative and quantitative analyses of primary data. The dissertation is divided into eight chapters. A summary of the chapters is as follows. Chapter 1 critically reviewed the neoclassical migration theories and conceptualizes the aspiration-capability framework as a prospect in migration theory. Chapter 2 used the capability-based migration framework to explain mobility and immobility decisions. Chapter 3 investigates how the possession of insufficient capabilities may lead to wrong migration decisions. Chapter 4 demonstrates how to enhance access to information capabilities using a formal source of information - information campaigns. Chapter 5 examines the integration experience and well-being of Nigerian asylum seekers in Italy. Chapter 6 investigate the contributions of international migrants to rural development in developing countries. Chapter 7 focuses on the impact of international migration on food security in Nigeria. Generally, the dissertation is unique and timely. It brings knowledge on the complete migration trajectory of a particular group, looking at the decision stage, the movement, the arrival, and the contribution. These holistic analyses of migration dynamics have lacked in migration literature. The thesis also provides a relevant methodological contribution since, at the moment, there is not yet a well-established methodology to describe a holistic migration-experience for a group of migrants or procedure for data collection of such cases. The critical contribution of this dissertation in migration literature is recognizing that migrants have human agency and capabilities. I argue that migrants should not be seen as economic tools but as human beings who desire to contribute to their families’ well-being. Hence, they need to be accorded fundamental human rights, empathy, and protection. This dissertation maintains that migrants’ achievements and contributions can be explained through the lens of expectations, constraints, and integration realities in host countries

The impact of living arrangements (in-camp versus out-of-camp) on the quality of life : a case study of Syrian refugees in Jordan

Refugee camps are believed to represent safe havens for forcibly displaced persons, but studies looking at refugees' quality of life in camps are few. This paper explores how Syrian refugees' quality of life in camps in Jordan differs from that of Syrian refugees residing outside camps. Using data from the Syrian Refugee and Host Community Survey, the study measures life quality through indicators of subjective life experience and material living conditions. Data are analyzed using advanced statistical methods (difference-in-difference and propensity score matching) to control for selection bias that could skew estimates of causal effects. The results show that refugees living outside camps enjoy a higher quality of life than those living in camps. Out-of-camp refugees are less likely to live below the national abject poverty line or in overcrowded houses. They possess more household assets, are more satisfied with access to services, and report higher life satisfaction. Refugee camps appear to serve as safe havens for refugees who lack the capability to exit camps, and camps could be redundant for those who possess adequate capabilities and freedom to function in the urban and peri-urban areas