IS GLOBALIZATION BAD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT? INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND LAND DEGRADATION IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES:THE CASE OF SMALL OPEN ECONOMY

This paper uses a two-good specific factors model to derive a relationship between international trade, land degradation, and welfare. Because developing countries enjoy comparative advantage in agriculture, they will export agricultural goods. We found that trade could lower steady state land quality and welfare. We conclude that poor resource management undermines the conventional gains from globalization.Environmental Economics and Policy, International Relations/Trade, Land Economics/Use,

Urban Fuel Demand in Ethiopia: An Almost-Ideal Demand System Approach

This paper investigates the opportunities for reducing the pressure of urban centers on rural forest areas, using a dataset of 350 urban households in Tigrai in northern Ethiopia. We applied an almost-ideal demand system to fuels. Because the same fuels were not always used by households, the analysis started with a probit model of fuel use. The inverse Mills ratios derived from it were inserted into the estimation of the fuel demand system to obtain a full set of price and income elasticities. The results suggest that reducing the pressure of urban centers on local forests cannot be seen in isolation from broader development policies aimed at raising the level of education and income of the population. Higher income also stimulates the demand for fuel.price elasticities, income elasticities, almost-ideal fuel demand system, reducing deforestation, Ethiopia

Using panel data to estimate the effect of rainfall shocks on smallholders food security and vulnerability in rural Ethiopia

Ethiopia's agriculture is predominantly rainfed and hence any irregularity in weather conditions has adverse welfare implications. Using panel data, this paper analyzes the effect of rainfall shocks on Ethiopian rural households' food security and vulnerability over time while controlling for a range of other factors. To this end, we generated a time-variant household food security index which is developed by principal components analysis. Based on the scores of the index, households were classified into relative food security groups and their socioeconomic differences were assessed. The exploratory results show that compared to the less secured households, the more secured ones have male and literate household heads, tend to have a greater number of economically active household members, own more livestock, experience better rainfall outcome, participate in equb (a local savings group), and use chemical fertilizer. Fixed effects regression was used to identify the factors which affect the score's variability and the results indicate that rainfall shock is an important factor affecting households' food security over time. It is also noted that household size, head's age, participation in equb, off-farm activities, use of fertilizer, and livestock ownership positively and significantly affect the food security score. Results from multinomial logistic regression model reinforce the fixed effects regression results by showing the strong association of persistent food insecurity and vulnerability with adverse rainfall shock. A number of conclusions can be drawn from the results which are useful for policymakers as well as for agencies that engage in areas of risk and food security.food security, principal components analysis, rainfall, panel data, Ethiopia, Food Security and Poverty, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods, Q18, C13,

Market and non-market transfers of land in Ethiopia - implications for efficiency, equity, and non-farm development

The authors use data from Ethiopia to empirically assess determinants of participation in land rental markets, compare these to those of administrative land reallocation, and make inferences on the likely impact of households'expectations regarding future redistribution. Results indicate that rental markets outperform administrative reallocation in terms of efficiency and poverty. Households who have part-time jobs in the off-farm sector are significantly more likely to expect land to be taken away from them through administrative means. Eliminating the scope for administrative land reallocation may thus be a precondition for more vigorous development of the off-farm sector.Environmental Economics&Policies,Municipal Housing and Land,Banks&Banking Reform,Land Use and Policies,Real Estate Development,Environmental Economics&Policies,Banks&Banking Reform,Rural Land Policies for Poverty Reduction,Land Use and Policies,Municipal Housing and Land

Society and technology diffusion theories and frameworks: the case of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) adoption in hotels and associated business in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

This paper reports on the current discussion of the use of theory in research. A number of existing theories are explored and discussed in the context of a study of the adoption of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) by hoteliers and tour operators in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It explores the existing theoretical frameworks that explain the relationship between society and technology; it identifies a selection criterion to find a theoretical framework that explains the main factors for the adoption of ICT. Furthermore, it reports how Rogers' theory of diffusion was assessed and selected to be used as a basis for formulating a new theoretical framework. The paper aims to share experience on how the selection and development of a modified theoretical framework for the particular research context was achieved. The modified theoretical framework, which may be used in a similar context in developing countries, is presented

Green Revolution Technology Takes Root In Africa: The Promise and Challenge of the Ministry of Agriculture/SG2000 Experiment with Improved Cereals Technology in Ethiopia; Statistical Annex and Copies of Questionnaire

food security, food policy, agricultural inputs, Ethiopia, Crop Production/Industries, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, Downloads July 2008 - July 2009: 5, O33,

Green Revolution Technology Takes Root in Africa The Promise and Challenge of the Ministry of Agriculture/SG2000 Experiment with Improved Cereals Technology in Ethiopia

In 1993, the Sasakawa/Global 2000 Program (SG) and the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) began a joint program to demonstrate that substantial productivity increases could be achieved when farmers were given appropriate extension messages and agricultural inputs were delivered on time at reasonable prices. The program provided credit, inputs and extension assistance to participants willing to establish half-hectare demonstration plots on their own land. In 1995, the MOA/SG demonstration program reached more than 3,500 farmers. During the same year MOA launched the New Extension Program (NEP) based on SG principles but managed independently. By 1997, NEP was managing the bulk of the demonstration plots. Although the MOA/SG program is widely considered to be a success, no formal analysis had been carried out to determine its profitability. In September 1997 MOA/SG agreed to collaborate with MSU to answer the following questions: (1) Is improved technology financially profitable for farmers? (2) Is it economically profitable from a national perspective? (3) What factors limit crop response to improved technologies? and (4) What challenges does the government face as it scales up the NEP program?food security, food policy, agricultural inputs, Ethiopia, Crop Production/Industries, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, Downloads July 2008 - June 2009: 15, O33,

Using panel data to estimate the effect of rainfall shocks on smallholders food security and vulnerability in rural Ethiopia

Ethiopia's agriculture is predominantly rainfed and hence any irregularity in weather conditions has adverse welfare implications. Using panel data, this paper analyzes the effect of rainfall shocks on Ethiopian rural households' food security and vulnerability over time while controlling for a range of other factors. To this end, we generated a time-variant household food security index which is developed by principal components analysis. Based on the scores of the index, households were classified into relative food security groups and their socioeconomic differences were assessed. The exploratory results show that compared to the less secured households, the more secured ones have male and literate household heads, tend to have a greater number of economically active household members, own more livestock, experience better rainfall outcome, participate in equb (a local savings group), and use chemical fertilizer. Fixed effects regression was used to identify the factors which affect the score's variability and the results indicate that rainfall shock is an important factor affecting households' food security over time. It is also noted that household size, head's age, participation in equb, off-farm activities, use of fertilizer, and livestock ownership positively and significantly affect the food security score. Results from multinomial logistic regression model reinforce the fixed effects regression results by showing the strong association of persistent food insecurity and vulnerability with adverse rainfall shock. A number of conclusions can be drawn from the results which are useful for policymakers as well as for agencies that engage in areas of risk and food security

Can The Momentum be Sustained? An Economic Analysis of the Ministry of Agriculture/Sasakawa Global 2000's Experiment with Improved Cereals Technology in Ethiopia

A Joint Research Activity of: Grain Marketing Research Project/Michigan State University, Sasakawa Global 2000, Ministry of Agriculture Department of Extension and Cooperatives, Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organizationfood security, food policy, Ethiopia, SG2000, Crop Production/Industries, Q18,