Changes In Income Research Articles

Quantitative assessment of the scale conversion from instantaneous to daily GPP under various sky conditions based on MODIS local overpassing time

ABSTRACT With the increasing frequency of extreme events, daily gross primary productivity (GPP) is necessary to be accurately assessed to determine when and how much it is affected. Fluctuating environmental conditions contribute to diverse diurnal photosynthetic patterns influenced by changing atmospheric factors, including solar radiation, CO2 concentrations, and leaf temperature. This complexity underscores the challenge of accurately estimating daily GPP. We quantitatively assessed three temporal upscaling approaches – cosine of the solar zenith angle, extraterrestrial solar irradiance, and photosynthetic active radiation(PAR) – under varying sky conditions. Additionally, we introduced a novel correction method for universal temporal upscaling ratios. Instantaneous GPP values from the FLUXNET2015 dataset, acquired around the MODIS overpassing time, were utilized. The upscaled daily GPP exhibited minimal deviation from the half-hourly GPPs collected between 11 am and 1 pm, with increased discrepancies for GPPs later in the afternoon. The PAR-based approach demonstrated superior accuracy in the afternoon, effectively capturing incoming radiation changes due to clouds. Instant environmental variables-GPP relationships were weak under clear skies but exhibited moderate-to-high positive correlations under cloudy conditions. Analyzing the impact of the diffuse ratio of incoming photosynthetic active radiation on instantaneous GPP revealed limited enhancement at short time scales. On a daily scale, all three temporal upscaling approaches, under different ranges of clearness index, consistently underestimated daily GPP. We proposed a novel correction method, normalizing the difference between maximum and minimum air temperature in a day, notably reduced errors by approximately 10.69 and 21.07 gC m−2 d−1 for cosine of the solar zenith angle and extraterrestrial solar irradiance-based temporal upscaling approaches. We recommend adopting the corrected temporal upscaling factor globally due to its simplicity and improved accuracy.

Occupational Mobility of Tourism Sector Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has shocked the travel and tourism industry, namely the arrival of international and domestic tourists has reduced significantly. This has an impact on reducing working hours, income and even job loss for formal and informal workers in the tourism sector. Tourism sector workers, in their efforts to maintain their income, carry out job mobility and adopt strategies to survive the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this research is to determine the occupational mobility of tourism sector workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research was conducted in 8 districts and 1 municipality in Bali Province, Indonesia. Data collection in the field was carried out using survey methods. The research findings showed that 59.6 percent of respondents stated that they carried out job mobility. Some respondents stated that they experienced 1 job change from before the pandemic to during the COVID-19 pandemic. How long does it take to change jobs from the initial job to the next job, 31.8 percent of respondents said they experienced it in less than 6 months, 21.9 percent said they experienced a job change in a period of more than 6 months to 1 year, as many as 6.6 percent said they experienced changing jobs within a period of more than 1 year, while 39.7 percent did not experience occupational mobility. The association of occupational mobility of tourism sector workers with the socio-economic characteristics of respondents shows that there is an association between the presence/absence of job mobility and the variables of gender, level of education, professional education/training held, frequency of experiencing job changes/transfers from one job to another. other jobs, the time span of how long it takes to change jobs from the first job to the next job, and variable changes in income during the pandemic compared to income before the COVID-19 pandemic.

A 30-year trend of dairy consumption and its determinants among income groups in Iranian households.

Milk and dairy products provide essential nutrients and have the potential to prevent chronic diseases, thus reducing healthcare costs. However, there is a lack of consistent and updated data on dairy consumption trends in Iran. This study aims to analyze the trends in dairy consumption among Iranian households from 1991 to 2021, focusing on household-level determinants across different expense groups. The study uses data from the Iranian Household Expenditure and Income Survey conducted annually from 1991 to 2021 to analyze households' dairy consumption. The data includes values and expenses of food and non-food items purchased in the previous month, as well as demographic characteristics of household members. The households were categorized into 10 deciles based on their gross expense. The econometric model used weighted mean per capita milk, yogurt, cheese, and total dairy consumption based on milk equivalent for each decile. The model takes into account changes in income, prices, household composition, education level, occupation, and residency area using panel data. Data preparation and model estimation were performed using RStudio and STATA17 software. Based on the findings, in 1991, per capita milk, yogurt, and cheese consumption were 26.77 kg, 16.63 kg, and 2.42 kg, respectively. By 2021, these figures changed to 22.68 kg, 11.06 kg, and 3.79 kg, reflecting a decrease in milk and yogurt consumption but an increase in cheese consumption. Family size was positively correlated with yogurt consumption and head of the household spouse's job score were positively correlated with milk, yogurt and cheese consumption. Also, the presence of under five-year-old children and older adults members (over the age of 60) in the household was inversely related with yogurt and cheese consumption. Female-headed households tended to purchase more cheese, while their milk purchase level was significantly lower. Residing in urban areas was negatively related to milk, while cheese and total dairy consumption was higher in urban areas. The findings highlight the importance of targeted dairy subsidy interventions and educational programs to improve dairy consumption in Iranian households, especially among vulnerable groups. This will require urging policymakers and food system stakeholders for effective strategies that address macro-level factors to promote dairy consumption.

Identifying the Depreciation Rate of Durables from Marginal Spending Responses

AbstractThis paper presents a new method to estimate the depreciation rate of durable goods using a combination of identified marginal and average spending shares. We apply our method to Chinese spending responses to disposable income changes induced by monetary policy in 2008–09. The marginal total spending response is 0.40. About 46% of this marginal spending response is due to durable goods. By combining this marginal spending share on durables with an average spending share of 14%, we estimate the annual depreciation rate of durables in China to be 0.17.

On the long-run properties of income and stock prices: the stability of the “golden ratios”

PurposeThe challenge of predicting changes in aggregate income and stock prices is one that has occupied the research agendas of economists. This paper aims to use the consumption–income ratio and the dividend–price ratio to predict future income and stock prices.Design/methodology/approachTo examine the stability of the consumption–income ratio and the dividend–price ratio, the authors run a two-variable, two-lag reduced-form VAR in the vein of Cochrane (1994), using a lag of each respective ratio as exogenous to the VAR. Additionally, the authors estimate an AR(4) model for income and prices.FindingsThe consumption–income ratio and the dividend–price ratio remain key to understanding future movements in income and stock prices. The consumption–income ratio significantly predicts future income in the USA, and aggregate income is easier to predict than consumption in the VAR model. The dividend–price ratio does not significantly predict future price growth. Consumption and dividend shocks have lasting impacts on income and prices.Originality/valueThe consumption–income ratio and the dividend–price ratio are still key to understanding future movements in income and stock prices. The consumption–income ratio significantly predicts future income in the USA, and aggregate income is easier to predict than consumption in the VAR model. However, the dividend–price ratio does not significantly predict future price growth, a change from previous research from the 1990s, despite the increasing complexity of stock markets. Consumption and dividend shocks have lasting impacts on income and prices and appear to be significant drivers in both the short- and long-run variance in income and prices.

Lessons on food security from the COVID-19 pandemic in Bermuda.

Compared with other OECD countries, Bermuda ranks third globally in terms of income inequality globally. During the COVID-19 pandemic, anecdotal evidence suggested, significant fluctuations in the food demand and supply. We aimed to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food insecurity, with a focus on the availability and affordability of various foods in Bermuda. We utilized a cross-sectional study design to investigate potential drivers of food insecurity within the local population. To gauge the level of household food insecurity we relied on the Bermuda Omnibus survey (N = 400) undertaken by Total Research Associates Ltd via telephone. To assess changes in food availability and affordability we conducted semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders who played pivotal roles in shaping food accessibility availability and affordability of food in Bermuda. These interviews were systematically analysed using the framework method. We performed analyses of food retail and import data to evaluate fluctuations in food prices and their impact on food availability and affordability. We found statistically significant associations between changes in food consumption, household income, and government aid. Food aid beneficiaries ate fewer fruits and vegetables by 50% [95% CI:17%-83%] and less fresh meat and fish by 39% [95 CI:3%-75%] compared with residents who did not receive any aid during the COVID-19 period from March 2020 to March 2021. Although we did not identify statistically significant food price increases feeding programmes played a pivotal role in preventing food insecurity during the pandemic in Bermuda. However, a lack of monitoring regarding the nutritional quality within the programmes, allowed a wide availability of foods high in sugar, salts, and fats, disproportionately affected low-income populations. In conclusion, food availability in Bermuda remained largely unaffected during the pandemic. Nevertheless, the surge in demand for feeding programs underscores underlying food security challenges in Bermuda and warrants further attention.

The impact of ICT and intangible capital accumulation on employment growth and labour income shares

This paper investigates the impact of the accumulation of tangible capital, ICT and intangible capital assets like software and databases or R&D on employment growth and the changes in labour income shares at the country-industry level. The econometric analysis is derived from a Cobb–Douglas production function taking into account the stylised fact that the capital–output ratios are rather constant or increasing over time with the latter being the case particularly for ICT and intangible assets. The accumulation of tangible assets like machinery and transport equipment then has a relatively strong positive relation to employment growth. Further in line with the theoretical outline, the accumulation of ICT assets or intangible assets are less strongly related to employment growth. Both these conjectures are confirmed econometrically. The impact on labour income shares is mixed, but generally small.

Impact of the covid-19 pandemic on household income: integrative review

The Coronavirus belongs to a family of viruses that affect the respiratory tract and was discovered on December 31, 2019. As a new virus it was called Covid-19 or Sars-Cov-2. To reduce the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, health authorities around the world have implemented social isolation measures to contain the spread of the disease. Therefore, the general objective of the present study was to investigate the change in income in families due to the COVID-19 pandemic. An Integrative Literature Review was carried out using the acronym “PCC” for the guiding question. The search took place in “Scielo”, “Lilacs” and “Pubmed” and data collection was based on criteria involving the quality of studies in “social sciences” and “health sciences” in Brazil. The analysis of the studies took place involving the 6 levels of evidence, with descriptive mapping based on the principles of scientific communication to present the review with its purposes, results and prerogatives. 7 studies were selected in the composition of the results. The decrease in family income affected all social classes, as well as different professional sectors and all educational levels. Therefore, it is important to construct proposals to subsidize interventions in different social segments.

The Dynamics of Inequality and Poverty Among Children in Colombia During the COVID-19 Recession

This study examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the income, inequality, and poverty levels among Colombian children between 2019 and 2020, using data from the Luxembourg Income Study Database. The income distribution and changes among Colombian children are analyzed using the probability density function and growth incidence curve. The paper utilizes the Foster–Greer–Thorbecke methodology to measure child poverty in Colombia, decomposes the contributions of different subgroups to child poverty and its changes, and conducts a growth-distribution decomposition of changes in child poverty. The study also employs income-source decomposition to examine the contributions of different income sources to child inequality and its changes. The results show that Colombian children experienced a decline in income, an increase in inequality, and higher levels of poverty during the COVID-19 pandemic. Children from households with higher dependency ratios and those living in rural areas were more likely to experience poverty. The main driver of increased poverty among Colombian children was decreased income, and there was a significant worsening of inequality for ultra-poor children. Labor income emerged as the primary source of inequality and its changes, whereas capital income and private transfers played a role in reducing poverty. However, public social benefits slightly increased inequality levels. Overall, the recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is antipoor but pro-ultra-poor. To address similar recessions in the future, the government should expand public transfer payments especially programs targeting children to reduce income inequality and alleviate poverty among children, and bolster the provision of public services essential for children’s development.

FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE DEMAND FOR SHARIA FINANCING ON CHANGES IN MSME INCOME IN SUMBAWA DISTRICT

This research aims to determine the factors that influence the demand for sharia financing on increasing MSME income in Sumbawa District (case study of customers of Bank Syariah Indonesia, Sumbawa Regency Branch). The research results are: first, the impact of Bank Syariah Indonesia's sharia system in Sumbawa District shows a significant influence on changes in income of micro, small and medium enterprises (0.000 < 0.05). The factor that causes this is that small and medium micro business actors in Sumbawa District realize that the sharia system will always bring blessings to every business they undertake. Second, the effect of promotion on changes in income of micro, small and medium enterprises in Sumbawa District in the case of Bank Syariah Indonesia in Sumbawa District did not have a significant impact (0.571 > 0.05). The cause of this is that micro, small and medium business actors in Sumbawa District cannot access the internet, in fact the internet network in some places for small, micro and medium business actors is not yet accessible, where promotion of financing products is mostly done online. Third, the influence of trust in Bank Syariah Indonesia, Sumbawa District Branch, has a positive impact on changes in the income of micro, small and medium enterprises (0.006 < 0.05). The factor that causes this is that micro, small and medium enterprises already believe in the systems and products offered by Bank Syariah Indonesia, Sumbawa District Branch, so that the bank and micro, small and medium enterprises are always on time in repaying their loans every month. Fourth, the influence of facilities and services on demand for sharia financing at Bank Syariah Indonesia Sumbawa District Branch for micro, small and medium enterprises does not have a significant impact (0.909 > 0.05). The factor that causes this is the lack of supporting capacity of human resources.

Agriculture land use transformation: A threat to sustainable food production systems, rural food security, and farmer well-being?

The acquisition of agricultural land is a crucial aspect of survival for numerous rural communities, serving as a fundamental tool for combating poverty and food insecurity and promoting equitable sustainable economic progress. The expropriation of land offers a promising prospect for remedying past inequities and promoting both economic progress and food sufficiency. Limited research has examined the association between land expropriation and food security, livelihood shocks, and the well-being of rural households worldwide. Therefore, this research explores the implications of land expropriation on food security, livelihood shocks, and well-being of land lost rural communities. The data were collected from 384 farmers selected through stratified sampling techniques using face-to-face surveys in rural China. The data were analyzed using descriptive and logit regression models. The descriptive findings showed that land expropriation has detrimental effects on the livelihood, food security, and well-being of the farmers. Furthermore, these impacts are more harmful among land-expropriated households with a lower educational level, a large family size, and women farmers in less developed rural communities. The econometric results evinced that gender, age, education level, marital status, family size, and negative changes in income all significantly affect the impact of land expropriation on the food security of farmers. Similarly, the findings revealed that farmers with lower education levels were more likely to be affected by land loss as compared to farmers with medium and high education levels. Farmers with complete land loss were 1.70 times more likely to suffer livelihood shocks than those with partial land loss. The results also evinced that the well-being of all farmers was not affected equally, and some farmers' well-being was affected more than others due to various socioeconomic backgrounds. Therefore, this study suggests the implementation of public policies that provide support to farmers who have been marginalized due to land acquisition.

Dynamic analysis of Caribbean food import demand

Short- and long-run price and income elasticities are generally unavailable at the regional level for major imported food groups for the Caribbean. These elasticity measures are needed to enhance policymaking. This paper therefore seeks to determine the income, own-price and cross-price elasticities of eight major imported food groups. This will show the relationships between income and price changes on the import quantities for the major food groups. This was done using an error-corrected linear approximate almost ideal demand system (EC-LA-AIDS) for the period 1961–2021, using annual data. The study found that the theoretical restrictions of homogeneity and symmetry did not hold in the static LA-AIDS model but did in the EC-LA-AIDS model. The speed of adjustment parameter in the EC-LA-AIDS model revealed that imported beverages had the slowest adjustment to long-run equilibrium while all other imported food categories had a moderate adjustment speed. The study also derived short- and long-run income and price elasticities of import demand for the eight imported food categories. In both time horizons, income elasticities revealed that all imported food categories were normal goods. In both time horizons, imported meat and seafood, and sugar and honey were the most responsive to changes in income, while spices and tea was the least responsive. Own-price elasticities revealed that all imported food categories were import price inelastic except for meat and seafood which was found to be import price elastic in both time horizons. Additionally, cross-price elasticities unveiled various substitution and complementary relationships between pairs of imported foods. The study not only contributed empirical insights into the import demand dynamics of the Caribbean, but also emphasized significant policy implications arising from the research findings.

DAMPAK RELOKASI PASAR TRADISIONAL TERHADAP PENDAPATAN PEDAGANG (STUDI KASUS DI PASAR RAKYAT TALANG BANJAR KECAMATAN JAMBI TIMUR)

This study aims to determine the impact of market relocation on the income of traders in the Talang Banjar People's Market, the factors that affect the income of traders after being relocated and how traders perceive the market relocation. In this study using qualitative research methods. As for the type and source of data needed, namely primary and secondary data. Data collection techniques are carried out by observing, interviewing and documenting while data analysis methods include data reduction, data presentation and drawing conclusions or verification. The results of the study showed that the income of traders after being relocated experienced a change in income where out of the 40 traders who had been interviewed, 38 traders had a decrease in income while as many as 2 traders had an increase in income. As for the factors that affect traders' income, namely location factors, trading hours, mods and competition. the perception of traders regarding the relocation of the Talang Banjar People's Market is not as expected, mainly because the number of traders' income has decreased. So it is hoped that government traders can make improvements to bring changes in a better direction, namely by repairing the market building, expanding road access, expanding stalls and kiosks according to the needs of traders and traders hope that all traders will be included in the market building.

Semi-Nonparametric Estimation of Energy Demand in Tunisia

In this paper, we have studied the possibilities of substitution between different forms of energy at the sectoral level in Tunisia. Indeed, we estimated a globally flexible functional form of Fourier type using the iterative Zellner’s seemingly unrelated regression (ITSUR). Contrary to several previous studies in the literature, we calculated the price (proper and crossed) and income elasticities, the elasticities of substitution in the sense of Allen, as well as the elasticities of substitution in the sense of Morishima for the period (1980-2017). The results show that price and income elasticities differ from one energy product to another and from one sector to another, depending on the destination (final or intermediate) and the nature of use. Additionally, the findings suggest that energy demand is more sensitive to changes in income rather than changes in price. It is noteworthy that the absolute value of price elasticity is lower than that of income elasticity. Implementing an appropriate pricing policy can help limit the income effect and encourage economic agents to make efforts to save energy. Our results also indicate that any pricing policy aiming to reduce energy consumption must consider the possibilities of substituting between products. Otherwise, this policy may yield results contrary to the intended objectives.

Revisiting the Income Inequality-Crime Puzzle

The economics literature generally supports a positive theoretical link between income inequality and crime. However, despite this consensus, empirical evidence has struggled to yield definitive conclusions. To address this puzzle, I conducted a meta-analysis based on 1,341 estimates drawn from 43 studies in economics journals. The findings indicate a statistically significant but economically insignificant true effect of inequality on crime, ranging between 0.007 and 0.123 using UWLS FAT-PET and advanced methods. In essence, if there is an impact of inequality on crime, it is, at best, minimal. Additionally, there is some limited evidence suggesting positive publication bias. Results from Bayesian model averaging reveal that inequality does not affect exclusively property crime, as predicted by the rational choice models. Moreover, this analysis shows that inequality measures which are sensitive to changes in income at the middle and top of the distribution are associated with higher coefficients. The study also underscores the biases arising from the exclusion of relevant variables. The implications of this research suggest that inequality may not be the primary motivator for criminal behaviour, with other factors potentially playing more significant roles. Lastly, if inequality does affect crime, it might do so in different ways than those discussed by the majority of the existing empirical studies.

Food Demand Projection and Consumption Patterns of Urban Households in Nigeria’s Kano State

Changes in population and income are essential components for altering the pattern of food demand. In light of the importance of food demand analysis, this study set out to ascertain urban household consumption trends in Nigeria’s Kano State in order to forecast future demand levels for certain food items. This research contributes to becoming a basis for policymakers to increase food productivity. A household’s cross-sectional survey data elicited through a well-structured questionnaire complemented with an interview schedule from a total of 144 households chosen via a multi-stage sampling procedure was used for the study. The collected data were analyzed using both Linear Approximate/ Almost Ideal Demand System (LA/AIDS) and factor analysis models. Based on empirical evidence, households’ poor purchasing power is owed to high food inflation, which causes them to have low dietary diversity. Besides, the necessary and luxury goods, respectively, were rice, beans, spaghetti, and meat; and millet, yam, Irish potatoes, semovita, fish and groundnut. Meanwhile, maze, garri, and palm oil were established to be inferior commodities. Besides rice and semovita being everyday goods, they demand high price-sensitive commodities. Consequently, to maintain the status quo in the households’ welfare, the onus lies on policymakers to compensate consumers if there is a rise in the prices of local rice, indomie and groundnut oil. The study advises policymakers to increase the productivity of those food items projected to witness the steep-to-gentle rise in demand, and government should endeavour to adopt macro-economic policies with human-face so as to cushion/soften households’ economic hardship in the study area.

Reducing energy poverty by nearly universal pension coverage of rural China

This paper estimates the causal effect of income change on reducing energy poverty by exploiting age-based eligibility for China’s New Rural Pension Scheme (NRPS) through a regression discontinuity (RD) design. More than one billion people worldwide live in energy poverty, and the situation is even more difficult in developing world. It is an important development challenge to reduce energy poverty, which could be further associated with health outcome, labor productivity, and educational achievements. While public policies that increase income for poor households are the most direct ways to reduce energy poverty, the reverse causality makes establishing a convincing causal link between income and energy poverty challenging. Using the quasi-experimental variation in income induced by NRPS, this paper addresses the endogeneity of income and examines the impact of exogenous sharp changes in income on energy consumption behaviors. The findings indicate substantial increases in modern energy consumption and sizable reductions in solid fuels (e.g., straw and fuelwood), suggesting that “windfall income” by pension coverage alleviates energy poverty. Although individuals could anticipate the income shocks by pension coverage, the evidence suggests that they do not engage in anticipatory responses to smooth their consumption. Further evidence shows that liquidity constraints may be the underlying mechanism for the lack of anticipatory responses in household energy consumption. Besides reducing energy poverty, the results demonstrate that pension coverage leads to a decrease in elderly labor supply, an increase in subjective health and life satisfaction, and an increase in non-energy consumption, all of which are positively associated with the well-beings of senior citizens. We anticipate that the findings of this paper in the context of China may be extended to developing world which has been expected to set up targeted measures to tackle energy poverty in upcoming decades.

A cross-sectional survey of material deprivation and suicide-related ideation among Vietnamese technical interns in Japan.

The economic struggles faced by many technical intern trainees in Japan include the necessity to remit money to their home country, debts owed to intermediaries facilitating their arrival, and reduced working hours due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, there is concern that the pandemic may contribute to mental instability resulting from the significant life changes experienced by the trainees. This study examined the experience of material deprivation among Vietnamese intern trainees in Japan and explored the correlation between material deprivation and suicidal ideation. A cross-sectional study was conducted between September and October 2021, involving 310 Vietnamese technical intern trainees. Data from 200 participants were analyzed. The questionnaire included gender, age, duration of residence in Japan, proficiency in the Japanese language, income changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, material deprivation status, and suicidal ideation. Suicidal ideation was assessed using the ninth item of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the relationship between material deprivation items and suicidal ideation. The mean age of the respondents was 26.0 ± 5.1 years, with 62.0% (n = 124) being male. Among the material deprivation items, 74.0% (n = 148) reported food deprivation, 59.0% (n = 118) reported cellphone bill deprivation, and 55.0% (n = 110) reported medical expense deprivation. Suicidal ideation was reported by 23.0% (n = 46) of the respondents. The prevalence of suicidal ideation was associated with age (p = 0.031, odds ratio [OR] = 0.889, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.799-0.990), deprivation of food expenses (p = 0.003, OR = 3.897, 95% CI = 1.597-9.511), and deprivation of cellphone usage (p = 0.021, OR = 3.671, 95% CI = 1.217-11.075). Vietnamese technical intern trainees in Japan faced various forms of material deprivation, which correlated with a high prevalence of significant psychological issues. Suicidal ideation was influenced by factors such as age, deprivation of food expenses, and inability to pay cellphone bills. The experience of material deprivation could have intensified the mental health challenges faced by Vietnamese trainees, particularly in the demanding circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Increased difficulty accessing food and income change during the COVID-19 pandemic among youth living in the eThekwini district, South Africa.

To estimate the effect of income change on difficulty accessing food since the COVID-19 pandemic for South African youth and evaluate whether this effect was modified by receiving social grants. A cross-sectional, online survey was conducted between December 2021 and May 2022. Primary outcome was increased difficulty accessing food since the COVID-19 pandemic. Income change was categorised as 'Decreased a lot', 'Decreased slightly' and 'Unchanged or increased'. Multivariable logistic regressions were used, with an interaction term between social grant receipt and income change. eThekwini district, South Africa. Youth aged 16-24 years. Among 1,620 participants, median age was 22 years (IQR 19-24); 861 (53 %) were women; 476 (29 %) reported increased difficulty accessing food; 297 (18 %) reported that income decreased a lot, of whom 149 (50 %) did not receive social grants. Experiencing a large income decrease was highly associated with increased difficulty accessing food during the COVID-19 pandemic (adjusted OR [aOR] 3·63, 95 % CI 2·70, 4·88). The aOR for the effect of a large income decrease on difficulty accessing food, compared to no income change, were 1·49 (95 % CI 0·98, 2·28) among participants receiving social grants, and 6·63 (95 % CI 4·39, 9·99) among participants not receiving social grants. While social grant support made a great difference in lowering the effect of income decrease on difficulty accessing food, it was insufficient to fully protect youth from those difficulties. In post-pandemic recovery efforts, there is a critical need to support youth through economic empowerment programming and food schemes.

Developing Model for Diffusion of Farmers’ Innovations for Maximizing Farm Income: Indian Agricultural Research Institute Experiences

Indian farmers have also been continuously improving available technologies for more efficient and cost effective farming, which resulted in numerous innovations over the generations and helped in improving farming practices ensuring better livelihood options. The action research was carried from 2015 to 2021 to document, verify, scalability testing, developing sharing and scaling mechanism, identifying support mechanism and finally devising scaling mechanism for higher profits, reduced costs, enterprise development, enhanced employment opportunities and capacities, growth and survival. The results of various interventions showed that FLIs were mostly reconfiguration of existing resources giving incremental adjustments. All innovators studied expressed dissatisfaction with the pre-existing economic returns of the farming thus pushing them to innovate. Economic effect of the farmers’ innovations in terms of changes in income, change in savings of stakeholders, change in capital owned and change in credit availability were expressed on an average. The innovations which were economically viable and found sustainable source of funding were able to translate into entrepreneurial ventures having higher income and profits. The conceptual model for scaling farmers’ innovations was found effective on the basis of experiences and interventions.