Institutional Effects on Rural Economic and Demographic Change

Abstract

Rural development is sustained growth of the rural economy and well- being of the rural population. Studies of how rural development are interrelated with demographic change need an appreciation of contingency. Society patterns of social organization and routines and rules of political behavior are societys structure. The rural demographic setting is described as are land resources and agricultural technologies. Rural economic and social organization is discussed as is the standard content of studies of rural development. Intergenerational property transfer differs in different family systems. Institutions that have their roots in community structures affect rural demographic and economic outcomes. Government administration is relevant to rural demographic and economic change especially public finance and the legal system. Population change and rural development are linked through an international system. Local government in new order Indonesia shows how attention to institutional contingency gives us a picture of population-rural development interactions. Underadministration and insecurity in Bangladesh are given as another example as are obstacles to peasant proprietorship in Kenya. Rural development and population strategies include: 1) ownership and scale; 2) technology; 3) programs of integrated rural development; 4) health and family planning; 5) reinforcement of policy; and 6) getting institutions right. Among these institutions are: family systems; community mobilization and capacity; government competence and function; property and labor relations.