Economic Development In Low-income Countries Research Articles

Being Well-in with the Joneses? A Lab-in-the-Field Experiment on Conspicuous Consumption among Rural Communities

Conspicuous consumption, specialised consumption of high visibility but without apparent economic benefit, is reducing investment in productive assets and thus hindering economic development in low-income countries. In previous research, the phenomenon was commonly explained by status-seeking and herding behaviour. Our study follows a novel angle in testing the role of risk sharing, assuming that investment into social status is perceived to increase access to informal credits in times of crises. We conduct a random-effects hurdle model along a lab-in-the-field experiment along a sample of 197 wheat farmers in Uzbekistan, a country characterised by high levels of risk and uncertainty. Within our experimental setup, both risk attitude and real-life risk management decision are found to be significant determinants of conspicuous consumption. Our findings support the notion of a complex decision-making process with risk sharing as one important motivator. Providing first empirical evidence on the topic, our findings have implications beyond our narrowly defined study case: We argue that strengthening options of formal risk-sharing tools might remove one of the motivators for conspicuous consumption; thus, it could improve the economic welfare of low-income households worldwide by allowing for more productive investment of scarce financial resources.

Impact of Financial Integration on Economic Development: A Dynamic Panel Quantile Regression Analysis

This paper investigated the impact of financial integration on economic development using the dynamic panel quantile estimator on a sample of 95 countries from 2004-2019. The results showed that the impact of financial integration on economic development varied across income levels. This study found that financial integration impacted economic development negatively in middle and high-income countries. However, financial integration did not significantly affect economic development in low-income countries.

The Application of Institutional Economics Theory in Solving Developing Countries Market Problems - Taking Ethiopia Grain Market and China Tomato Market as Examples

Since the 1990s, when the new institutional economics was first introduced, many economists have been looking for a way to incorporate its ideas into the field of development economics. In this paper, we investigate the prospects of using development economics theory, which is grounded in institutional economics, to address the economic challenges faced by developing nations. In this paper, we conclude that institutional economics theory can be successfully applied to the problem of economic development in low-income countries. Developing nations shouldn't discount the harm caused by irrational trading decisions. When people act irrationally in the market, it can have a negative impact on the economy as a whole. As such, developing countries could benefit from implementing brokerage institutions to lessen the blow of irrational behavior on economic growth.

Water Supply System Description and Risk Assessment in Brikama Water Treatment Plant System, West Coast Region, Gambia: WHO Water Safety Plan Based Approach

Background: Better water quality, improved sanitation and sound water resource management will improve public health and economic development in low-income countries. Water safety plan-based risk assessment and risk management from catchment to consumers are the modern and efficient approaches to safe drinking water supply established by World Health Organization. Thus, this paper aimed to assess risk from catchment level to consumers in the community of Brikama.
 Methods: This study report assessments of risk or hazards from catchment to consumers in Brikama Water Treatment Plant (BWTP), West Coast Region, The Gambia. The various means of data collection used include water quality monitoring, visual field inspection and questionnaire survey to explore data on where the water supply system goes wrong from catchment to consumers, so as to provide an improvement plan.
 Results: Overall, the day-to-day administration of services at BWTP was very impressive. The fencing of all the 17 boreholes at catchment sites has drastically reduced the risk of contamination including treatment systems and distribution lines. There are less risks observed and constant monitoring of the system was ensured. However, at the consumer end, there are some risks with poor practices associated with water handling, storage and hygiene measures at the household level. Some still use some unclean 20-liter containers to store water and indiscriminately kept drinking cups on the floor and unclean surfaces, and 50% lacked WASH knowledge related to water treatment, such as boiling and filtration at households. The overall perception of water storage, sanitation and hygiene practices could be rated moderately good.
 Conclusion: The overall findings of this study have shown tremendous achievement in the government's commitment to providing potable water to the people in Brikama Local Government Area. WASH education in the study area is recommended to avoid waterborne disease infections.

EFFECTS OF RENT-SEEKING ON ECONOMIC GROWTH IN LOW-INCOME ECONOMIES

Sluggish growth in low-income countries, despite the high performance in other economic indicators, motivates the literature to switch attention to institutions. Despite its crucial economic implications, there is limited attention on rent-seeking as a driver of economic growth in low-income countries. This paper investigates the effect of rent-seeking on growth in low-income countries from 2004 to 2017using the system generalized method of moments estimator. The empirical results reveal that rent-seeking negatively affects growth, implying that it obstructs the pace of economic development in low-income countries. Hence, it is necessary for policymakers in these countries to adopt anti-rent-seeking policies to promote a rapid and sustainable growth.

Nailing of long bone fractures in precarious situations: focus on the Surgical Implant Generation Network (SIGN) nail

Le développement économique des pays à faibles revenus a pour corollaire une augmentation considérable des véhicules motorisés, et en particulier des motocyclettes. Les accidents de la circulation augmentent ainsi que les fractures qui y sont associées. Le traitement des fractures des os longs repose dans la majorité des cas sur l´enclouage centro-médullaire verrouillé, procédé rarement disponible en situation sanitaire dégradée. Pour apporter à ces pays un traitement optimal, le clou SIGN (Surgical Implant Generation Network) a été développé en 1999 par Lewis Zirkle. Il est actuellement utilisé gratuitement dans 53 pays. En contrepartie une base de données internationale doit être remplie afin de l´évaluer et de le faire évoluer. A la lumière de nos expériences en Haïti et au Burundi et d´une revue de la littérature, nous décrivons ici ses particularités conceptuelles et techniques, dont l´implantation dans les pays francophones reste limitée.

The Diaspora and economic development in Africa

While the dominant collective belief asserts that brain drain is detrimental to the development of small economies, new studies hold the reverse view. This paper aims at studying the role of the Diaspora in the economic development of low-income countries with particular focus on African countries. It analyzes both the overall effect and the specific effect of emigration according to the level of education of emigrants. While the empirical results for all developing countries fail to establish an unambiguous relationship between the Diaspora and economic development, those concerning African countries establish a clear and unambiguous relationship. The African Diaspora, especially the high-skilled Diaspora, contributes positively, significantly and robustly to the improvement of income in Africa. These findings challenge the dominant collective belief. Improvements in human capital, total factor productivity and democracy are effective transmission channels of this impact. In addition, while high-skilled emigrants have an overall greater impact on economic development and democracy, those with a low level of education contribute more to remittances to Africa.

Review: Agriculture-industry linkage and technology adoption in Ethiopia: Challenges and opportunities

Sisay T. 2018. Review: Agriculture-industry linkage and technology adoption in Ethiopia: Challenges and opportunities. Trop Drylands 2: 18-27. High rate of agricultural growth has far-reaching positive implications for economic development of low-income countries in terms of increasing employment and accelerating poverty reduction. For Ethiopia to achieve middle-income status by 2025 and make substantial inroads against food insecurity, concerted and strategic investment and strategic choices in the agricultural sector are vital. Agricultural linkage encloses generating and transferring agricultural technologies to enhance productivity, reduce loss, and improve the livelihoods of beneficiaries as well as the country’s economy. The objective of this paper was to review the current status of linkage between agriculture-industry actors, extent of technology adoption system, challenges and opportunities in Ethiopia. The result of the review study shows that different factors are constraining the system. Most of the agriculture industry linkage and technologies promoted through the extension system and adoption levels are far below the possible expectation in the country. Agriculture research industries lack effective mechanisms of transferring their technologies to the end users, inadequate technological skilled manpower, poor market linkage between technology multiplication enterprises and technology users, lack of responsible body to transfer technology were the major challenges in Ethiopia. Factors constraining the linkage between stakeholders and technology adoption level of Universities, TEVTs, agriculture Research institutions and agriculture sector are wide ranging from poor linkage between stakeholders and weak involvement of professionals are among the main problems that constraining the system. Weak link between research, education, and extension and the contact of these organizations have with farmers is among the main bottlenecks in agricultural technology development, adoption level. Therefore, strong University and Research-industry linkage is needed in the country.

Mobile Phones for Mobile People: The Role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) among Livestock Traders and Borana Pastoralists of Southern Ethiopia

Abstract The recent widespread use of mobile communication technologies has sparked considerable interest in their application to social and economic development in low-income countries. In this article we examine the different uses of mobile phones among livestock traders and Borana pastoralists of southern Ethiopia, where increased adoption of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) has been recent and shows potential for improvements in local livelihoods and marketing systems. We draw on an ongoing study of pastoralists and livestock traders who, in the past five years, have increased their reliance on mobile phones. They increasingly employ them to access information on grazing, weather and market conditions despite local differences in adoption rates. The article argues that differential rates of ICT adoption among groups of herders and traders relate to unequal access to the technology and infrastructure, as well as differences in local practices of information gathering. We show that the high-level of sharing of mobile technologies between owners and non-owners, however, dampens some of the negative effects of unequal ownership and infrastructure deficiencies. In the conclusion, we address the program and policy implications of the study's findings and point to the need for additional research on mobile phone use among pastoralists.

Environmental Quality in Economic Development in Low-Income Countries: Application of an EQT Model using Cross-Country Sample Data

Past studies have tended to inquire as to whether there is evidence that economic growth negatively impacts environmental quality. This remains and has always been an ample question to ponder with regard to the case of high-income countries. In terms of the low-income countries, however, the reverse question seems to be more appropriate given that the main concern in these countries is relatively more about growth than the environment. This paper develops an Environmental Quality Trajectory (EQT) model and applies it to provide a theoretical and empirical analysis of the importance of environmental quality, and how it impacts economic growth and development for developing countries. The study reveals some very important issues concerning the environment and the major factors that shape its role in economic growth and development in low-income countries. And most importantly, the study’s results appear to generally lend support to aspects of the Ruttan-Kuznets propositions about the relationship between income and environmental quality in developing countries, and at the same time seem to refute some aspects of it, to the effect that the implications of the environmental Kuznets curve does not seem to hold equally to all low-income countries per se, as ordinarily believed hitherto.

Consequences of hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, healthcare-seeking behaviors of patients, and responses of the health system: a population-based cross-sectional study in Bangladesh.

BackgroundNon-communicable diseases are a threat to human health and economic development of low-income countries. Hypertension (HT) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are two major causes of deaths, worldwide. This study assesses the health status, health-care seeking, and health provider responses among patients with these conditions.MethodsThe study carried out population-based cross-sectional survey in a rural and an urban surveillance area in Bangladesh. It interviewed all patients identified with HT and COPD at home using a structured questionnaire on the health consequences, healthcare-seeking behaviours, and coping strategies. Qualitative techniques identified key factors relating to the behaviours of patients and providers.ResultsCOPD and HT correlate with lower activities of daily living (ADL) scores. The odds ratio (OR) for ADL scores in the combied conditions are high (OR: 3.04, p < 0.05) as compared to hypertension. Financial crises occur significantly more frequently among COPD patients in the urban site as compared to those in rural ares (12.5% vs. 2.4%, p < 0.01). Self-treatment at the onset is common. Seeking care from trained providers is higher in urban settings and is higher for HT. Referral for both COPD and hypertension was inadequate until the disease severity increased.ConclusionsCOPD and HT significantly are associated with lower ADL scores and financial problems. Public-sector primary healthcare facilities should be better organised to address both conditions with the aim to reduce household poverty.

From Disease to Pandemic

From Disease to Pandemic

Reassessing the Relationship between Economic Growth and Inequality

This study attempts to reassess the relationship between economic growth and inequality using an up to date data set, 2003–2007, for a sample of seventy-four developed and developing countries. Average economic growth during this studied period is regressed against the 2003 values of inequality, growth, education, human development, inflation and governance quality using OLS cross-country models. The findings support a negative impact of inequality on economic growth for the entire sample. In particular, an increase (decrease) in inequality would lead to greater deterioration (expansion) in economic development in low-income countries than in high- and middle-income countries. Furthermore, improvement in governance does not either stimulate or hinder the economic growth.

Injuries: the neglected burden in developing countries

Injuries: the neglected burden in developing countries

Hunger and Containment: How India Became “Important” in US Cold War Strategy

Hunger and Containment: How India Became “Important” in US Cold War Strategy

The contribution of health to the economy in the European Union

Despite increasing recognition of the link between health and economic development in low-income countries, the relationship has to date received scant attention in rich countries. We argue that this lack of attention is not justifiable. While the economic argument for investing in health in rich countries may differ in detail from that in low-income countries, there is considerable and convincing evidence that significant economic benefits can be achieved by improving health not only in poor, but also in rich countries. Better health increases labour supply and productivity and historically, health has been a major contributor to economic growth. In spite of remaining evidence gaps economic policy-makers also in developed countries should consider investing in health as one (of few) ways by which to achieve their economic objectives.

Economic development and the food question in Latin America

This paper summarizes the elements required for analysing `the food question' as a constituent element of broader socioeconomic processes. To do this, the paper establishes the linkages between food-related issues and economic development in low-income countries, more specifically, in Latin America, with special reference to Brazil as a large country example. Based on contributions from `development economics', the research examines the main conditions for achieving economic growth with increasing social equity with special focus on food security, and requirements as regards global and sectoral policies.

Populaiion Growth and Economic Development in Low-Income Countries

Populaiion Growth and Economic Development in Low-Income Countries

Population Growth and Economic Development in Low-Income Countries: A Case Study of India's Prospects.

Population Growth and Economic Development in Low-Income Countries: A Case Study of India's Prospects.

Population Growth and Economic Development in Low-Income Countries: A Case Study of India's Prospects

Population Growth and Economic Development in Low-Income Countries: A Case Study of India's Prospects