Migration and non farm activities as income diversification strategies: the case of Northern Ghana

Environmental changes affect the livelihood of the rural population. This is especially true for those households who mainly rely on farming for their subsistence. In Northern Ghana, during the last two decades, soil erosion, the increasing unpredictability of the rains and the raise in the population size - with the ensuing pressure on the land - contributed to make people even more vulnerable to environmental conditions. These factors - together with the adverse market conditions for the local produce and the neglect of the region in the design of adjustment policies - pushed rural population towards income generating activities alternative to farming (i.e. migration and non farm activities). In this paper, we use a multivariate analysis to explore the determinants of income diversification from a household perspective. We find that non agricultural activities represent an option that better-off households - and communities - can resort to, in order to overcome the difficulties of the agricultural sector; while out-rural seasonal migration is emerging as a coping strategy adopted by poor households to meet their basic needs, and it is unlikely to improve their socioeconomic condition in the long run.income diversification, poverty, inequality, migration

On the Move Livelihood Strategies in Northern Ghana

The households who live in the rural areas of Northern Ghana base their subsistence on natural resources, which are threatened by the progressive desertification and increased frequency of extreme weather events in the region. We draw on a field work and on extensive secondary data sources to analyze how the rural population successfully adapted its livelihood strategies to cope with the economic, institutional and environmental changes which occurred over the last two decades. The field work evidences significant differences across communities in the adaptation strategies, which depend closely on the available portfolio of assets. The analysis evidences serious concerns about the environmental consequences of some of the observed changes in livelihood strategies, strengthening the case for public policies aimed at promoting a sustainable development in the region.

On the Move Livelihood Strategies in Northern Ghana

The households who live in the rural areas of Northern Ghana base their subsistence on natural resources, which are threatened by the progressive desertification and increased frequency of extreme weather events in the region. We draw on a field work and on extensive secondary data sources to analyze how the rural population successfully adapted its livelihood strategies to cope with the economic, institutional and environmental changes which occurred over the last two decades. The field work evidences significant differences across communities in the adaptation strategies, which depend closely on the available portfolio of assets. The analysis evidences serious concerns about the environmental consequences of some of the observed changes in livelihood strategies, strengthening the case for public policies aimed at promoting a sustainable development in the region.Livelihood Strategies;agriculture;Non Farm Activities;Internal migration;sustainable development;Rural Areas

Migration, remittances and poverty in Ecuador

Etudes & documentsWe analyse the influence of the recent wave of migration on the incidence of poverty among stayers in Ecuador. We draw our data from a survey that provides detailed information on migrants. The analysis reveals a significant negative effect of migration on poverty among migrant households. This effect is substantially smaller than the one that we find focusing on recipient households. We explore the factors that account for this divergence. Our analysis entails that the existing empirical evidence on the relationship between remittances and poverty needs not to be informative about the size of the direct poverty-reduction potential of migration

Bringing It All Back Home Return migration and fertility choices

Return migration exerts wide-ranging influence upon the countries of origin of the migrants. We analyze whether returnees adjust their fertility choices to match the norms which prevail in their previous countries of destinations, using Egyptian household-level data. Egyptians migrate predominantly towards other Arab countries characterized by higher fertility rates. Relying on a two-step instrumental variable approach to control for the endogeneity of the migration decisions, we show that return migration has a significant and positive influence on the total number of children. These results suggest that migration might not be an unmitigated blessing for Egypt, as it has contributed to slow down the process of demographic transition.temporary migration; fertility; household-level data; North Africa; Egypt

La Disabilità nell'Approccio delle Capability

In this paper, we introduce a framework based on the capability approach of Amartya Sen as a base to analyse the concept of disability in a dynamic context for the disabled person. In the first part the base for equality among human beings is discussed and a critical review of disability models presented. In the following part the concept of disability is redefined throughout the capability approach. The second part of the paper introduces new concepts in the capability approach framework. The aim is to try to explain the dynamics among expectation, adaptation, and change for a disabled person in the evaluative space of capabilities.Disability Studies; Capability Approach

Disabilities through the Capability Approach Lens: Implications for public policies Handicap au travers de l’approche par les Capabilités: Quelles implications pour les politiques publiques ?

This paper explores the contribution of the capability approach of Amartya Sen and other authors to policy making in the specific case of disability policy. After reviewing existing models, their translation into action and their limitations in this regard, the paper introduces a new policy framework based on the capability approach. In particular, we introduce a new measure of functionings and capabilities. We investigate ways of measuring the gap between functionings, what people are able to do and be, and capabilities – the valuable practical opportunities people have and choose from. The possibility of the elaboration of such a disability indicator opens new perspectives for policy making that are of particular interest to persons with disabilities (who are often excluded from mainstream policy making because their agency is not considered by policy makers)

Strumenti per le Policy sulle Disabilità

The aim of this paper is to present some concepts and tools that can help policy makers to design policies for disabled persons. In the first part of the paper the principle of non dominated diversity is considered and the principle of maximum potential presented. In the second part the policy dilemma for this type of intervention is considered. In the third part of the paper, after a critical analysis of ICF model, some instruments to be used for policies in the evaluative space of capabilities are presented.Disability Studies; Capability Approach