Showing papers by "Pushkar Maitra published in 2002"

The joint estimation of child participation in schooling and employment: comparative evidence from three continents

Abstract: This paper uses data from Peru, Pakistan and Ghana to analyse simultaneously child labour and child schooling, and compares them between these countries. We use a multinomial logit estimation procedure that analyses the participation and non-participation of children in schooling and in employment and, in particular, allows the possibility that a child combines schooling with employment or does neither. We also use an ordered probit estimation procedure based on a ranking of the various child schooling/employment/non-schooling/non-employment outcomes. The results point to both similarities and striking dissimilarities in the nature of child labour and child schooling between the chosen countries. For example, in Pakistan, but not in Peru, the girl child's ordering of schooling/employment outcomes shows her at a position of extreme disadvantage. Household poverty discourages a child from achieving superior outcomes, but the effect varies markedly across the three countries.

The effect of household characteristics on poverty and living standards in South Africa

Abstract: This paper uses panel data from South Africa to examine the effect of household characteristics on poverty and living standards and how they have changed over the five years following the dismantling of apartheid. I estimate the standard of living using two alternative methodologies. First, I use probit analysis to examine the poverty status of the household. Second I use quantile regressions to examine the standard of living of the household at different points on the income distribution. The main measure of the standard of living is per adult equivalent household income, which adjusts household income by the scale and composition adjusted household size. The estimation results show that the sex of the household head, the education attainment of the household head, ethnicity and region of residence have significant effects on both the poverty status and standard of living of the household.

On the Choice of Tenancy Contracts in Rural India

Abstract: This paper uses data from rural India to analyse how cultivating household and plot level characteristics affect contract choice on a particular plot of land. We estimate a sequential choice model where the landowner first decides whether to cultivate the land on his own (possibly with hired labour) or to lease it out. If the latter, then a choice is made between fixed-rent or share-cropping. One interesting finding is that the greater the value of the plot, the greater is the probability that the plot is owner cultivated. Moreover, among tenant cultivated plots, higher value plots are share-cropped.

Age at Marriage and Total Fertility in Nepal

Abstract: In societies where child bearing prior to marriage is not socially acceptable, postponement of marriage contributes significantly towards a reduction in the level of fertility by shortening the total reproductive span of women. This in turn reduces the number of children a woman is likely to have and has a negative impact on the population growth rate of a country. This paper examines the effect of socioeconomic characteristics on the age at marriage and on total fertility rates in Nepal using a household level data set. The estimation results show that an increase in the age at marriage significantly reduces total fertility of women. An increase in the number of children that have died has a statistically significant effect on total fertility (the child replacement effect). The estimation results also emphasize the role of female education in reducing total fertility and increasing the age at marriage. Moreover there is a threshold level of education that must be attained before education starts affecting these two variables.

The analysis of consumer demand for food in south africa using an almost ideal demand system: some preliminary results *

Abstract: This paper examines consumer demand for food in South Africa. An Almost Ideal Demand System that incorporates socio-economic and demographic factors is specified and estimated using cross-sectional data of 1993 Integrated Household Survey. By utilising a two-stage budgeting procedure, a complete food demand system was estimated. The results indicate that, for food groups (meat and fish, grains, dairy products, fruits, vegetables and other foods), demand is generally price elastic. Meat and fish, grains and dairy products are luxury products, while fruits, vegetables and other foods are necessities. For food commodities, the results indicate that the demand with respect to own-price is generally elastic. The results suggest that, for an increase in income, food expenditure on meat and fish and grains would increase while that on dairy products, vegetables and other foods would decrease. The implications of the empirical results are discussed.

On the Choice of Tenancy Contracts in Rural

Abstract: This paper uses data from rural India to analyse how cultivating household and plot level characteristics affect contract choice on a particular plot of land. We estimate a sequential choice model where the landowner first decides whether to cultivate the land on his own (possibly with hired labour) or to lease it out. If the latter, then a choice is made between fixed-rent or share-cropping. One interesting finding is that the greater the value of the plot, the greater is the probability that the plot is owner cultivated. Moreover, among tenant cultivated plots, higher value plots are share-cropped.

The Analysis of Consumer Demand for Food in South Africa: An Application of the Modified Almost Ideal Demand System: Some Preliminary Results

Abstract: This paper examines consumer demand for food in South Africa. An Almost Ideal Demand System that incorporates socio-economic and demographic factors is specified and estimated using cross-sectional data of 1993 Integrated Household Survey. By utilising a two-stage budgeting procedure, a complete food demand system was estimated. The results indicate that, for food groups (meat and fish, grains, dairy products, fruits, vegetables and other foods), demand is generally price elastic. Meat and fish, grains and dairy products are luxury products, while fruits, vegetables and other foods are necessities. For food commodities, the results indicate that the demand with respect to own-price is generally elastic. The results suggest that, for an increase in income, food expenditure on meat and fish and grains would increase while that on dairy products, vegetables and other foods would decrease. The implications of the empirical results are discussed.