Typology Of Households Research Articles

Food security and agriculture in the Western Highlands of Guatemala

Food security is a major challenge in Guatemala, one of the poorest countries in the world. Food insecurity is concentrated in the Western Highlands of Guatemala (WHG) where indigenous communities have been the main victims of social, political and economic marginalization. In this study we characterize the diversity of farming households in the WHG, identify the main sources of food for different types of farm households and assess their food security status through a simple, yet robust, potential food availability indicator. Based on a large and rich dataset of nearly 5000 farm households, our results show the diversity of farming systems in the region, dominated by maize and coffee production, as well as the large differences in their potential food availability. In our model, 52% of farm households in the WHG did not have the means to attain sufficient energy from their agricultural activities. In general, diversified maize-based, coffee-based and specialized coffee farm households had larger proportions of potentially food secure households with 60%, 83% and 74% food secure households, respectively. This contrasted with farm households specialized in maize production and resource-constrained households where there were a greater proportion of households were food insecure. The analytical framework presented here, combining a typology of farm households and their livelihoods with the analysis of their food security status, provides a useful approach for better targeting development interventions towards combating hunger, poverty and malnutrition.

Enriching Travel Demand Forecasting Models with a Household Typology

In the Québec province, in Canada, travel demand forecasting relies mainly on individual characteristics, whereas it appears that individual mobility behaviors also significantly depend on the attributes of relatives and people who live in the same household. This paper aims to better understand the interactions between the household structure and individual mobility behavior, as well as the effects of the age and life cycle of individuals and their relatives on individual trips. Considering that personal mobility is dependent on household attributes, a household typology is proposed to be included in the travel demand forecasting approach, which is initiated with large-scale household travel surveys. An allocation model of the people to a household type completes the process, so that in the future, transport demand could be predicted considering the person herself as well as her household type.

Hogares rurales y estrategias familiares de vida en México

The main objective of this paper is to describe and compare income levels, sources of income, and expenses of rural households in Mexico from 2002 to 2014. Based on the enigh, a typology of households was constructed based on income derived from businesses. It was found that the number of households with income from the agricultural sector decreased over this period; the number of members of a household was related to source of income; multiactivity has increased – a combination of activities and sources of income –; and there was a real loss of purchasing power. The main source of household income came from employment, although 25% of the population was unemployed Families mainly spent money on food, clothing and housing. Households with greater dependency on agricultural activity had less income, and depended more on remittances, government support and self-consumption. These families resorted to the diversification of income as a family strategy for survival.

Spend as I say, not as I do: Children, families and household consumption in different socio‐economic contexts

AbstractThis article aims at contributing to a body of work about children and families by exploring the importance of socio‐economic context and social capital for understanding the ways in which money is perceived, obtained and used by children. Alleged contrasts in terms of money management, consumption priorities and postponement of gratification, especially among middle and working classes, have already been debated. It seems thus relevant to investigate if these presumable contrasts apply to children and why. Do children from different socio‐economic contexts reveal the traits that have been attributed to their households? To this end, a mixed methods research project was developed involving 245 children attending different primary schools in Portugal—one private school targeted at upper class children and one state‐sponsored school located in a working‐class area. The results revealed significant differences by school and household typology.

Energy justice, unequal access to affordable warmth, and capability deprivation: A quantitative analysis for Belgium

This paper explores the energy justice nexus, drawing on Sen and Nussbaum’s concept of capabilities. Our contribution operationalises most of the ten capabilities defined by Nussbaum, and examines them for all households of a single country (Belgium) in relation to household access to energy and especially to affordable warmth. We argue that the three dimensions highlighted by environmental-justice theories – income distribution, procedures producing unequal distributional outcomes, and cultural and political recognition of vulnerable and marginalised social groups – are more evident when posed contra the range of differences between energy-poor households and other types of households of a country. Thus, we propose a five-group typology of households that also takes into account the social aid granted in the country. Using Belgium as an example, this typology is used to compare across these five groups with respect to the extent to which energy poverty is associated with other difficulties of daily life beyond just housing and health. A new simple statistical index is developed to summarise these comparisons. The approach of the energy justice nexus is thus systemic rather than causal between access to energy and potential capabilities’ deprivation. The data used is a large-scale quantitative survey that is part of the Generation and Gender Programme (GGP), and it enables to proxy most of Nussbaum’s capabilities with several questions asked in this GGP survey. As these GGP surveys are standardised and realised in 16 countries, our approach is transferable to other nations/regions as well. Results show that energy poverty in Belgium is associated with deprivation of several capabilities, in more areas than expected: not only regarding housing, health, and mobility, but also regarding access to culture and recreational activities, as well as the feeling of fulfilment and ontological security. Furthermore, the comparison between energy-poor people and other energy-access groups makes the issue of social stigma clearer, and thus so the dimension of political recognition. In terms of policy, these results suggest to fighting energy poverty as a transversal issue.

Farm household typology and adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices in smallholder farming systems of southern Africa

Enhancing adoption rates of climate-smart agriculture practices and their impact on livelihoods requires promotional persistence, complemented by a thorough socioeconomic analysis that recognizes the heterogeneity of smallholder farmers. Farm typologies are a useful tool to assist in understanding and unpacking the wide diversity amongst smallholder farmers to improve both up- and out-scaling of climate-smart agriculture practices. Our study typifies farm households in southern Africa based on socioeconomic factors prompting adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices. We use a combination of principal component analysis for necessary data reduction and cluster analysis to identify typical farm households and their socioeconomic characteristics. It is evident from our results that various socioeconomic factors define clusters and can be associated with adoption and use of climate-smart agriculture practices in smallholder farming. We conclude that farm typology identification is an important step towards the promotion of climate-smart agriculture practices in smallholder agriculture. These typologies provide essential ammunition to support efforts and policies aimed at improving adoption by recognizing heterogeneities in the targeted populations. In addition, we conclude that the multivariate analysis provides useful tools suitable for identifying the important socioeconomic characteristics of households influential in determining adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices.

Developing English domestic occupancy profiles

ABSTRACT Occupancy patterns are necessary to estimate energy demand and evaluate thermal comfort in households. Because of this, many European countries are developing representative domestic schedules to replace outdated criteria. This paper evaluates the state of knowledge of UK domestic occupancy patterns and develops new domestic occupancy profiles for England. The presented research (1) characterizes methods for collecting occupancy data and inferring patterns; (2) identifies and assesses the quality of categories of occupancy patterns used in building simulation; and (3) develops updated occupancy profiles. A systematic scoping review identified social and monitoring surveys as the most deployed data-collection methods. A systematic literature review also established that the occupancy categories most frequently used in UK building simulation are (a) a family with dependent children where the parents work full time; and (b) a retired elderly couple who spend most of their time indoors. The interview sample from the English Housing Survey 2014–15 was used to map household typologies. Results show that categories (a) and (b) combined amount to only 19% of England’s households, which suggest models are over-reliant on these groups. Considering this result, the paper develops occupancy patterns for England derived from 2015 UK Time Use Survey diaries for each household typology previously identified.

Climate smart agriculture, farm household typologies and food security: An ex-ante assessment from Eastern India

One of the great challenges in agricultural development and sustainable intensification is the assurance of social equity in food security oriented interventions. Development practitioners, researchers, and policy makers alike could benefit from prior insight into what interventions or environmental shocks might differentially affect farmers' food security status, in order to move towards more informed and equitable development. We examined the food security status and livelihood activities of 269 smallholder farm households (HHs) in Bihar, India. Proceeding with a four-step analysis, we first applied a multivariate statistical methodology to differentiate five primary farming system types. We next applied an indicator of food security in the form of HH potential food availability (PFA), and examined the contribution of crop, livestock, and on- and off-farm income generation to PFA within each farm HH type. Lastly, we applied scenario analysis to examine the potential impact of the adoption of ‘climate smart’ agricultural (CSA) practices in the form of conservation agriculture (CA) and improved livestock husbandry, and environmental shocks on HH PFA. Our results indicate that compared to livestock interventions, CA may hold considerable potential to boost HH PFA, though primarily for wealthier and medium-scale cereal farmers. These farm HH types were however considerably more vulnerable to food insecurity risks resulting from simulated drought, while part-time farmers and resource-poor agricultural laborers generating income from off-farm pursuits were comparatively less vulnerable, due in part to their more diversified income sources and potential to migrate in search of work. Our results underscore the importance of prior planning for development initiatives aimed at increasing smallholder food security while maintaining social equity, while providing a robust methodology to vet the implications of agricultural interventions on an ex ante basis.

Pictures of lesbian and gay parenthood in Italian sociology. A critical analysis of 30 years of research

The article analyses sociological research on lesbian and gay parenthood conducted in Italy over the past 30 years. By focusing on the typologies of the homosexual households of the participants in research projects, this work discusses how empirical academic and non-academic research has depicted same-sex families with children in the Italian context. An initial mainstream inattention towards lesbian and gay parents by sociological research at the beginning of the Nineties gave way to a particular interest in that experience, focusing on the newest form of homosexual parenthood defined as same-sex couples who are able to access assisted fertilisation technology and surrogacy. The new pattern can be said to have overshadowed the experience of homosexual parents whose children were conceived within heterosexual relationships. This simplification concerns to the relationship between sociological research, LGBT activism and the political debate.

A Measure of Trust: The Italian Regional Divide in a Latent Class Approach

Social differences within countries may partly explain the lack of economic convergence and the persistence of regional disparities. The case of Italy is emblematic: economic gap between North and South remains at high levels with large differences in social capital and in trust. In this paper, we use the micro data from the ISTAT “Aspects of Daily Life” Survey to build a measure of “trust in others” and a measure of “trust in institutions” through a latent class model to attribute a trust score to the Italian households and the Italian regions and, in this way, to add elements of knowledge useful to policies. Our measures confirm a persistent territorial divide although the regional mapping appears more complex than the classical North–South partition. At last, a discussion on the household typology shows that the territorial gaps of trust persist even among households with similar socio-economic characteristics.

Do low-income rental housing programmes complement each other? Evidence from Ohio

ABSTRACTWe characterise the rental subsidy use in units developed with construction subsidies and explore whether such concurrent subsidy use responds to needs unmet by a tenant-based programme alone. We develop a typology of households to guide our analysis focusing on voucher use in Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) units. Findings for Ohio in 2011 suggest that the use of additional rental assistance in LIHTC can be complementary in serving certain high-need populations, particularly when targeted housing services are provided. Very poor households with special housing needs constitute over 60% of the population with additional rental assistance in LIHTC, yet the extent to which additional housing services are provided to them is unclear. However, our analysis identifies a significant portion of households in LIHTC units that could seemingly be housed in the private rental market, signalling some degree of inefficiency in the current subsidy mix. While we find that very low income voucher holders are more likely to use their voucher in an LIHTC unit when facing a tighter market or a potential gain in neighbourhood quality, the effects are small.

Land Access and Household Food Security in Kpomassè District, Southern Benin: A Few Lessons for Smallholder Agriculture Interventions

Land remains a key asset in smallholder agriculture, and is expected to play a critical contribution to food security, still a major concern for decision makers. The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between land access mechanisms and the food security situation of households in Kpomassè district (southern Benin). A survey was conducted among 150 farmers selected randomly in six villages across the district. Data were collected on socio-demographic characteristics, access to land and food consumption patterns of the households. Data analysis encompassed a typology of households according to their access to land, by combining Hierarchical Cluster Analysis and Principal Component Analysis. The level of household food security was assessed by computing the food consumption score. Three types of producers were identified based on their access to land. These were typified as “renters”, “borrowers” and “heirs”, representing 44%, 21%, and 35% of the sample, respectively. The average food consumption score ranged between 51.9 and 57.4, showing a satisfactory food intake for all types of households. The study suggests that secure modes of access to land might improve the food security status of households through increased assets. Also, there is a need of capacity building for farmers, in order to address the critical issue of the impoverishment of soil, through fertility management programs. The issue of access to credit is also an important policy matter.

How understanding of rural households’ diversity can inform agroforestry and community forestry programs in Nepal

ABSTRACTSocio-economic diversity can help to bring about innovative development in agroforestry practices. The diversity of households in the mid-Nepal hills was analysed using survey data from 521 randomly selected households in six villages. A cluster analysis derived the following household typology based on socio-economic variables—Type 1: resource-poor Brahmin/Chhetri; Type 2: resource-poor Janajati; Type 3: resource-rich mixed-caste households; Type 4: resource-rich Brahmin/Chhetri; Type 5: resource-rich Janajati; Type 6: resource-poor Dalit households. The analysis revealed that social status (caste/ethnicity), household status on foreign employment and landholding are strong predictors of household segmentation in rural Nepal. This paper suggests revision of existing wellbeing ranking approaches using these socio-economic variables for more inclusive and equitable agroforestry and community forestry outcomes.

Beyond average energy consumption in the French residential housing market: A household classification approach

In a new environment marked by the growing importance of Green House Gas emissions, fuel poverty, and energy efficiency in the different national agendas, the comprehension of energy demand factors appears to be crucial for the effectiveness of energy policies. We consider the latter could be improved by targeting specific household groups rather than looking to follow a single energy consumption level target. This article explores the scope of having a disaggregated energy consumption market to design policies aimed at curbing residential energy consumption or lowering its carbon intensity. Using a clustering method based on the CHAID (Chi Square Automatic Interaction Detection) methodology, we find that the different levels of energy consumption in the French residential sector are related to socio-economic, dwelling and regional characteristics. Then, we build a typology of energy-consuming households where targeted groups (fuel poor, high income and high consuming households) are clearly and separately identified through a simple and transparent set of characteristics. This classification represents an efficient tool for energy efficiency programs and energy poverty policies, but also for potential investors, which could provide specific and tailor made financial tools for the different consumer groups. Furthermore, our approach helps designing some energy efficiency score that could reduce the rebound effect uncertainty for each identified household group.

Estrategias de abasto de maíz de los hogares campesinos en el municipio de Atlangatepec, Tlaxcala.

El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar las estrategias de abasto de maíz de los hogares campesinos, tomando como referencia el municipio de Atlangatepec en el estado de Tlaxcala, México. Se encuestó a 90 ejidatarios de cuatro ejidos y se realizaron cinco entrevistas a autoridades ejidales y municipales en 2010. Se generó una tipología de hogares según las estrategias de abasto de maíz y se estimaron correlaciones no paramétricas entre los tipos de hogares con cuatro características de los mismos. Los resultados evidencian que las estrategias de abasto de maíz se sustentan en: 1) la producción de maíz blanco criollo; 2) la compra del mismo o de tortillas elaboradas a máquina; y 3) la siembra de otros cultivos más tolerantes a las adversidades climáticas. Se identificaron tres tipos de hogares: de autobasto, de semiabasto y deficitarios. Las primeras fueron las más frecuentes. Existe correlación positiva entre el tipo de hogar con la diversificación productiva y la edad de los encuestados, y negativa entre el tipo de hogar con el tama- ño de familia. Los tres instrumentan estrategias de abasto de maíz vinculadas a componentes de seguridad alimentaria. Las condiciones climáticas influyen en que estas estrategias sean diversas y cambiantes a través del tiempo.

Designing for residents: Building monitoring and co-creation in social housing renovation in the Netherlands

Large differences between the expected and actual energy consumption have been found in energy efficient dwellings. Research has shown that these differences are partially caused by occupant behaviour. The financing and payback periods of low carbon technologies are often uncertain because of the impact of the occupants on building performance. This translates into a reluctance to invest in deep renovation projects. The goal of this design-inclusive research project is to develop a solution for zero energy renovation that reduces the uncertainty on building performance cause by occupants’ behaviour by reducing the uncertainty in design decisions and energy calculations. This investigation focuses on the identification of building type specific occupants and their characteristics, requirements and living practices. This paper presents the user research approach developed for the renovation process. The approach consists of statistical analysis of Dutch households, a monitoring campaign in the area of study and co-creation research through mock-ups, enactments and interviews. Case studies results are presented to highlight the effect of different household types on energy consumption and occupants’ requirements, and point at the importance of taking into account household typology and socio-economic characteristics in energy calculations or building simulations, as well as occupant requirements in the design process.

To mulch or to munch? Big modelling of big data

African farmers are poorly resourced, highly diverse and aground by poverty traps making them rather impervious to change. As a consequence R4D efforts usually result in benefits but also trade-offs that constraint adoption and change. A typical case is the use of crop residues as mulches or as feedstock. Here we linked a database of household surveys with a dynamic whole farm simulation model, to quantify the diversity of trade-offs from the alternative use of crop residues. Simulating all the households in the survey (n=613) over 99 years of synthetic climate data, showed that benefits and trade-offs from “mulching or munching” differ across agro-ecologies, and within agro-ecologies across typologies of households. Even though trade-offs between household production or income and environmental outcomes could be managed; the magnitude of the simulated benefits from the sustainable intensification of maize-livestock systems were small. Our modelling framework shows the benefits from the integration of socio-economic and biophysical approaches to support the design of development programs. Our results support the argument that a greater focus is required on the development and diversification of farmers' livelihoods within the framework of an improved understanding of the interconnectedness between biophysical, socio-economic and market factors.

Rural Housing in Ireland: A Description and Classification for the 1980s

This study utilises 1981 Census of Population data on housing and households in order to sketch in the essential structure of the Irish rural housing stock in the 1980s. Following an initial examination of the tenure structure and the quality of the stock, the main part of the paper is concerned with the development of a national typology of housing and households using the technique of Cluster Analysis. Seven main clusters are identified and their significant characteristics are described. The diversity of housing in the Irish countryside is adverted to. but it is pointed out that this diversity is under threat arising from the rapid expansion of new owner-occupied housing.

Disaggregated South African household net wealth: A mixed methods approach

This article addresses the paucity of disaggregated household net wealth data in South Africa. A mixed methods approach was followed to develop and conduct a country-specific household net wealth measurement survey. A disaggregated household typology of assets and liabilities, based on international net wealth surveys, was developed. Focus group research was employed in the qualitative strand to finalise the survey. In the quantitative strand, disaggregated micro-level data estimates from 2 606 households were collected and the article presents the cursory findings. A comparison is drawn between the survey’s main asset and liability estimates with data estimates presented in the South African Reserve Bank’s household balance sheet. These estimates were constructed from macro-level data estimates and lack information on the disaggregated composition of household net wealth. Furthermore, the conceptual linkages and differences between the micro and macro data estimates are described. The manner in which differences in the concepts, construction methods and potential survey errors contributed to differences between the two sets of data estimates is also indicated. The aim of the research was to contribute to the field of household finances from the perspective of a developing country. Therefore, the process followed to construct and validate the survey instrument and data estimates could assist other developing countries to develop their own surveys. Disaggregated net wealth data estimates could assist policy-makers with the overview and management of a country’s household net wealth.

Mapping Fuel Poverty in Portugal

Abstract We defined a novel methodology to assess the potential fuel poverty of residential dwellings at LAU2 level combining data on income, level of education, unemployment rate, and number of inhabitants above 65 years old, with both the space heating and cooling gap estimated per household typology. We create an indicator of the share of potential fuel poor inhabitants in each LAU 2 region. We implemented this methodology for 29 municipalities in Portugal. On average 22% of the inhabitants are potentially fuel poor regarding their dwellings’ space heating and 29% regarding space cooling. There is a large variation across the country.