Showing papers by "International Food Policy Research Institute published in 1991"
TL;DR: In this paper, a theory of a segmented labor market with endogenous government hiring in response to unemployment is presented, and a simple computable general equilibrium model is used to illustrate how this can give rise to dynamic social costs and to quantify them.
Abstract: Surplus labor in the public sector--a characteristic of many developing countries--is viewed in this paper as the consequence of rent-seeking behavior. A theory is presented of a segmented labor market with endogenous government hiring in response to unemployment. A simple computable general equilibrium model is used to illustrate how this can give rise to dynamic social costs and to quantify them. Fiscal resources are diverted to support the unproductive "sink." The effect of surplus labor on economic growth is shown to be substantial, while the government's attempt to reduce unemployment is shown to be futile. Copyright 1991 by Royal Economic Society.
160 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the impact of the failure of an irrigation project on former beneficiary households, and drew a number of conclusions about minimum requirements in the design of projects of this type.
Abstract: This paper examines the impact of the failure of an irrigation project on former beneficiary households. The project in question was designed to expand pump-irrigated rice production amongst smallholders in The Gambia. It achieved this aim for a few years; increased farm productivity improved food security for participating households, while at the same time increasing their ability to invest in farm, household and community assets. However, the project subsequently succumbed to numerous technical and institutional problems. The paper considers the reasons for the project's failure, discusses the effects and consequences of project unsustainability from the household perspective, and draws a number of conclusions about minimum requirements in the design of projects of this type.
38 citations
14 citations
13 citations
TL;DR: It is concluded that FFM can be estimated from anthropometric dimensions with a high degree of accuracy and use of BIA does not provide more valid estimates.
Abstract: This study aims at assessing the accuracy of estimates of body composition provided by bioimpedance (BIA) equations developed for U.S. populations when applied to a sample of Guatemalan farmers. If these equations were shown to have low validity, the second objective was to develop more accurate estimates of fat-free mass (FFM). One hundred males and females 19 to 45 years of age were randomly selected from four rural communities in the Western Highlands of Guatemala. Bioimpedance equations explained 59 and 33% of the variation in FFM, with a RMSE of 2.7 and 2.8 kg in males and females, respectively. Body fat (BF) predictions had a lower R2 . Using the "all possible regressions" procedure, the best subset for prediction of FFM used anthropometric and BIA variables as predictors. The best model for men and women included only anthropometric variables: 75% of the variance in FFM for men and 70% of the variance in women was explained by this model. The RMSE was 2.1 and 1.9 kg for both groups, respectively. It is concluded that FFM can be estimated from anthropometric dimensions with a high degree of accuracy and use of BIA does not provide more valid estimates.
7 citations
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors describe how to build multisector computable general equilibrium models for policy analysis and present the social accounting matrix that provides the conceptual framework linking together different components of the model and furnishes much of the data as well.
Abstract: This paper describes how to build multisector computable general equilibrium models for policy analysis. The article presents the social accounting matrix (SAM) that provides the conceptual framework linking together different components of the model and furnishes much of the data as well. This is followed by the equations of the core CGE model and by a description of how the core model is implemented using the GAMS software. The article proceeds to describe how the model’s benchmark data and parameters are derived from the SAM. The final section uses data from an African country to consider how the GAMS model can be applied to evaluate the economic impact of capital inflows.
7 citations
TL;DR: In 1989, a conference was held by the International Food Policy Research Institute and the UN Economic Commission for Latin America (CEPAL) at CEPAL headquarters in Santiago to examine the relationships between macroeconomic and trade policy, and agricultural incentives and growth in Latin America as discussed by the authors.
5 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors argue that there is a tendency to ignore the reinforcement effect that pre-reform distortions have on culturally based pro-male biases, leading many to conclude that economic reform and adjustment policies are directly responsible for the low welfare levels of women as producers, consumers, and providers.
Abstract: Why is the subject of gender and economic reform and adjustment so controversial? We believe the controversy centers on two main points. First, there is a tendency to ignore the reinforcement effect that pre-reform distortions have on culturally based pro-male biases. The inability to collect distortion-enhanced economic rents is linked to an individual's low economic and social status and, therefore, to an individual's gender. Ignoring this point leads many to conclude, erroneously we think, that economic reform and adjustment policies are directly responsible for the low welfare levels of women as producers, consumers, and providers. However, to say that economic reforms and adjustment aim to make economic welfare reflect more accurately the resources an individual commands-rather than an individual's genderprovides little comfort to women; quite the contrary, in the post-reform environment the inequities and the foregone productivity gains are out in the open for all to see. Second, while we have no argument with the fact that gender is a potentially valid dimension along which to examine the equity and efficiency effects of economic reform and adjustment, we would like to see the utility of this approach scrutinized more closely. When is gender the most appropriate first-order disaggregation? Under what circumstances would we better understand the fundamental, structural cause of the problem by examining distributional impacts across size of landholdings, region, tenure status, employment status, or occupational sector? When, for any one of these first-order disaggregations, is gender an important second-order disaggregation? Gender should not be the automatic starting point of an analysis of adjustment, nor should it be ignored as a potential starting point. We encourage the avoidance of approaches that are gender-blinded or gender-blind. In short, we caution against extreme views.
5 citations
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a simple partial equilibrium framework for considering the economic implications of administered protection in Tanzania, against the background of the country's parallel exchange market and the establishment of the own-funds and open general license (OGL) facilities for authorizing imports.
Abstract: This paper presents a simple partial equilibrium framework for considering the economic implications of administered protection in Tanzania, against the background of the country`s parallel exchange market and the establishment of the own-funds and open general license (OGL) facilities for authorizing imports. It also presents estimates of the range of possible adjustment in the real exchange rate and trade flows following from a unification of the highly-fragmented import licensing system, coupled with sufficient liberalization of the OGL facility to eliminate own-funded imports and the incentive to export smuggling.
1 citations
TL;DR: The challenges facing Bangladesh are: (a) how to accelerate agricultural growth through labour-intensive technological progress and enlarged access to inputs, credits and assets on the part of the poor farmers, and (b) to prevent acute short-term food deprivations by achieving a reasonable degree of stability of food supplies and prices as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: The challenges facing Bangladesh are: (a) how to accelerate agricultural growth through labour-intensive technological progress and enlarged access to inputs, credits and assets on the part of the poor farmers, and (b) to prevent acute short-term food deprivations by achieving a reasonable degree of stability of food supplies and prices. In order to make a dent on rural poverty the expansion of non-farm rural employment in trade, services and rural industries and innovative public employment projects, as well as public food distribution schemes, targeted towards the poorest, are needed.
1 citations