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on Africa |
| By: | Egbetokun A.; Oluwatope O.; Adeyeye D.; Sanni M. (UNU-MERIT) |
| Abstract: | Using innovation survey data on a sample of UK manufacturing firms, Laursen and Salter 2006 documented a non-monotonous relationship between external search strategies and firm-level innovative performance. We find partially similar results in a combined sample of Nigerian manufacturing and service firms. A major discrepancy is that external search appears not to matter for radical innovation in our sample. Based on multiple research streams including economics of innovation and development economics, we develop and test new hypotheses on sectoral differences and the role of the economic context. We find that in a developing context, a wider range of innovation obstacles implies broader external search and more intense obstacles require deeper search. We explore the implications of these results for management research and theory. |
| Keywords: | Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables: General; Transactional Relationships; Contracts and Reputation; Networks; Management of Technological Innovation and R&D; |
| JEL: | L14 O32 C30 |
| Date: | 2014 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:unm:unumer:2014073&r=afr |
| By: | Magejo, Prudence (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg); Benhura, Miracle (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg); Gwatidzo, Tendai (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg) |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates trends in intergenerational transmission of education among black South Africans – changes in correlation between parents' and children's education. Using data for 1954-1993 birth cohorts, we find a decrease in intergenerational transmission of education over the last four decades. The decline is strongest in the lower tail of the educational distribution. Nevertheless, a considerable portion of children's education still depends on family background. Children from poor educational backgrounds face significant barriers to attaining higher levels of education while the reverse applies to those from rich backgrounds. This suggests that initiatives to weaken the intergenerational link, particularly at higher levels of education, should target the offspring of educationally deprived parents. |
| Keywords: | intergenerational transmission, education, South Africa |
| JEL: | J62 I24 |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp8546&r=afr |
| By: | Nikoloz Gigineishvili; Paolo Mauro; Ke Wang |
| Abstract: | Is rapid economic growth experienced by the East African Community during the past decade built on solid foundations? To gain some clues, we use a variety of newly-collected and existing data sources to analyze the structural transformation of output and exports, as well as indicators of their quality and sophistication. The move from agriculture to a wide range of other sectors—bodes well for continued growth, as do gradual improvements in quality. Yet, no clear winners on the production side seem to have emerged, to embed a durable comparative advantage in international markets. These observations may instill a note of caution against projecting rapid growth into the distant future. |
| Keywords: | Economic growth;East Africa;Production;Exports;Regional economics;Cross country analysis;Structural transformation, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda. |
| Date: | 2014–08–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:imf:imfwpa:14/150&r=afr |
| By: | Bezabih, Mintewab; Di Falco, Salvatore; Mekonnen, Alemu |
| Abstract: | Weather fluctuations tend to be as important as climate change in farmers’ decision making in countries such as Ethiopia that have virtually no weather insurance. This paper assesses the distinct impacts of weather and climate change measures on agricultural productivity of households, measured in terms of crop revenue, in the Amhara region of Ethiopia. Four waves of survey data, which included about 1500 households in each round, combined with interpolated daily temperature and monthly rainfall data from the meteorological stations, are employed in the analysis. The distinction between weather and climate is highlighted by observations in the temperature data, which show that the pattern of temperature for both short-term and long-term values follows a bell-shaped distribution, with the striking feature that the extreme ends of the distribution have fatter tails for the long term values. The analysis employs monthly rainfall and 14 temperature categories related to weather measures and four categories corresponding with the extreme ends of the long-term temperature distribution. The analysis also distinguishes between summer and spring seasons and different crops, in recognition that Ethiopia’s agriculture is multi-cropping and multi-season. The major findings show that temperature effects are distinctly non-linear, but only when the weather measures are combined with the extreme ends of the distribution of the climate measures. In addition, rainfall generally has a less important role to play than temperature, contrary to expectations for rainfed agriculture. |
| Keywords: | crop revenue, climate change, weather variability, Mundlak’s Fixed Effects method, Ricardian analysis, Ethiopia |
| JEL: | D2 Q12 Q15 |
| Date: | 2014–07–18 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rff:dpaper:dp-14-15-efd&r=afr |
| By: | Perge, Emilie; Sullivan, Clare |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics and Policy, Food Security and Poverty, |
| Date: | 2014 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea14:170309&r=afr |
| By: | Chamberlin, Jordan; Ricker-Gilbert, Jacob |
| Abstract: | This is a draft paper, submitted in advance of presentation at the 2014 Annual Meeting of the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association. |
| Keywords: | smallholders, land rental markets, land access, rural development, agricultural productivity, sub-Saharan Africa, Malawi, Zambia, Agricultural and Food Policy, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Food Security and Poverty, International Development, Land Economics/Use, Production Economics, Q15, O12, O13, |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea14:170434&r=afr |
| By: | YUKO, NAKANO; Takuji, Tsusaka; Valerien, Pede |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, International Development, |
| Date: | 2014–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea14:170239&r=afr |
| By: | Syampaku, E.M; Mafimisebi, T.E. |
| Abstract: | The study analyzed the responsiveness of maize grain and maize meal spatial price volatilities to increased government participation in maize grain marketing in Zambia using descriptive statistics and vector auto-regression (VAR). This was achieved by comparing spatial price volatility means and spatial price means for the period under increased government participation with respective means for periods under limited government participation. Also, spatial price volatilities were regressed against own spatial price and cross price means, cross price spatial volatilities, seasonality and arbitrage level. Lastly, the extent of spatial volatility discovery in the two vertical markets (maize grain and maize meal) was discovered from VAR equations. Real monthly price data for January 2003 to May 2011 from 8 major markets were used in the study. Empirical results indicated increased government participation reduced spatial price volatilities for both commodities. The VAR model identified own spatial price mean reduction as the major determinant of spatial price volatility reduction for both commodities compared to other variables. Maize meal spatial price volatility was also determined by one month lagged maize grain spatial price mean. Spatial price volatility for each commodity was higher in months with low prices and lower in months with high prices. Reduced arbitrage exerted more reducing effect on price volatility of maize grain than on maize meal price volatility. Most volatility discovery occured in maize meal market although government intervened in maize grain marketing. The study concluded that increased government participation significantly reduced price volatilities for both commodities. Moderated government intervention to a level that still guarantees arbitrage by many players, especially in the maize meal market, was recommended. |
| Keywords: | Spatial, price volatility, private sector, government participation, maize grain, maize meal, vertical markets, Zambia, Crop Production/Industries, Demand and Price Analysis, International Relations/Trade, Marketing, |
| Date: | 2014–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea14:174858&r=afr |
| By: | Shikuku, Kelvin M.; Okello, Julius J.; Sindi, Kirimi; McEwan, Margaret; Low, Jan W. |
| Keywords: | Gender, attitudes, biofortified foods, adoption, sweetpotato, Tanzania, Consumer/Household Economics, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Food Security and Poverty, International Development, |
| Date: | 2014 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea14:171425&r=afr |
| By: | Ayinde, Opeyemi E.; Bessler, David A. |
| Abstract: | Rice, which is one of the major sources of energy, vital nutrients and a staple food, is in short supply in many Nigerian households. Nigeria is among many African countries that have engaged in agricultural liberalization since 1986 in the hope that reforms emphasizing price incentives will encourage producers to respond. Hitherto, the reforms seem to have introduced greater uncertainty into the market given increasing rates of price volatility (Ajetomobi 2010). This study therefore models supply responses in Nigerian Rice production that include the standard arguments as well as price risk. Statistical information on domestic and imported quantities of rice was obtained for 41 years (1970 to 2011) from the AGROSTAT system of the statistical division of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Federal Ministry of Agriculture statistical bulletins, Central Bank of Nigeria statistical bulletins and National Bureau of Statistic. (NBS). The data are analyzed using descriptive, equilibrium output supply function and co-integration models and vector autoregressive distributed lag. Producer price of rice was positive and statistically significant with coefficient 0.6334. The output response of rice to hectarage was statistically significant but was negative with the coefficient 1.5135. Rice importation showed a negative sign and was statistically significant in Nigeria at 0.05, with Changes in output also responsive to changes in price. There is the tendency for the price of agricultural products to drop, which may consequently reduce the level of domestic production and thus discourage commercial production. The results indicate that producers are more responsive not only to price and non-price factor but to price risk and exchange rate. It is therefore imperative to reduce price risk as to increase the response of producer to supply by bridging the gap in production. Rice, which is one of the major sources of energy, vital nutrients and a staple food, is in short supply in many Nigerian households. Nigeria is among many African countries that have engaged in agricultural liberalization since 1986 in the hope that reforms emphasizing price incentives will encourage producers to respond. Hitherto, the reforms seem to have introduced greater uncertainty into the market given increasing rates of price volatility (Ajetomobi 2010). This study therefore models supply responses in Nigerian Rice production that include the standard arguments as well as price risk. Statistical information on domestic and imported quantities of rice was obtained for 41 years (1970 to 2011) from the AGROSTAT system of the statistical division of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Federal Ministry of Agriculture statistical bulletins, Central Bank of Nigeria statistical bulletins and National Bureau of Statistic. (NBS). The data are analyzed using descriptive, equilibrium output supply function and co-integration models and vector autoregressive distributed lag. Producer price of rice was positive and statistically significant with coefficient 0.6334. The output response of rice to hectarage was statistically significant but was negative with the coefficient 1.5135. Rice importation showed a negative sign and was statistically significant in Nigeria at 0.05, with Changes in output also responsive to changes in price. There is the tendency for the price of agricultural products to drop, which may consequently reduce the level of domestic production and thus discourage commercial production. The results indicate that producers are more responsive not only to price and non-price factor but to price risk and exchange rate. It is therefore imperative to reduce price risk as to increase the response of producer to supply by bridging the gap in production. |
| Keywords: | Demand and Price Analysis, |
| Date: | 2014–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea14:170347&r=afr |
| By: | Larochelle, Catherine; Alwang, Jeffrey |
| Keywords: | Food Security and Poverty, International Development, |
| Date: | 2014 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea14:170567&r=afr |
| By: | Mofya-Mukuka, Rhoda; Kuhlgatz, Christian |
| Abstract: | Zambia and particularly the Eastern province have one of the highest rates of malnutrition in the world. The most vulnerable are the children from rural households which depend entirely on seasonal agricultural production and income, and survive on diets that are deficiency in proteins and other important nutrients. Agricultural diversification and commercialization provide alternative strategies for sustainable all-year-round household food and income availability. Applying Propensity Score Marching (PSM) and Generalized Propensity Score (GPS), this article evaluates the impact of agricultural diversification (in terms of calorie and protein production) and commercialization on reducing malnutrition in the Eastern province of Zambian. We use a uniquely rich dataset that comprises socioeconomic, agricultural and anthropometric data of 1120 children from five districts in the Eastern province. Results from PSM do not show significant impact of agricultural diversification and commercialization on reducing malnutrition while GPS results show that higher degrees of diversification reduce malnutrition. However, commercialization tends to have a negative effect particularly for short- and middle-term nutrition outcomes, where capital accumulation through higher purchasing power might have less impact. Policies need to consider the current diversification intensity of farmers and the different consequences on wasting and stunting when implementing diversification strategies. High levels of diversification could improve the wasting and underweight status of children by delivering a high amount of nutrients, but may come at the cost of reducing the efficiency of the farm and thus increasing the possibility of longer term stunting. Interventions focused on improving agricultural diversification and high degrees of commercialization may enhance adequate and diverse protein and calorie sources, while at the same time households will have excess produce for the market to meet their income demands. |
| Keywords: | Nutrition, Agriculture, Diversification, Commercialization, Propensity score matching, Generalized Propensity Score., Agricultural and Food Policy, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Food Security and Poverty, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods, |
| Date: | 2014–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea14:170506&r=afr |
| By: | Madhavan- Nambiar, Padmanand; Florkowski, Wojciech J.; Chinnan, Manjeet S.; Ressurrecion, Anna |
| Abstract: | Variations in different household expenditures across urban households in the Republic of Uganda are studied using a survey data. Multivariate Tobit estimation method is employed to quantify the effects of various factors, including household income. Expenditure elasticities of income vary across different categories of expenditures. Location and other factors such as education influence the expenditure decisions |
| Keywords: | Republic of Uganda, Household expenditures, Multivariate Tobit, Expenditure elasticities, Food expenditures, Education expenditures, Agricultural and Food Policy, Consumer/Household Economics, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Food Security and Poverty, |
| Date: | 2014–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea14:169641&r=afr |
| By: | Jayne, T.S.; Sturgess, Chris; Kopicki, Ron; Sitko, Nicholas |
| Abstract: | Vibrant agricultural commodity exchanges will greatly enhance the performance of Africa’s agricultural sectors and contribute to overall economic development. Yet specific conditions in grain markets are required for agricultural commodity exchanges to develop.1 The absence or short-lived nature of many of these conditions explains why commodity exchanges for staple grains have remained stunted in Sub-Saharan Africa despite strong interest in their development by the international donor community and by most elements of the private sector. This study identifies these preconditions and assesses the scope for development organizations to support the sustainable development of commodity exchanges in eastern and southern Africa. |
| Keywords: | Grain Markets, commodity exchanges, Agricultural and Food Policy, Marketing, |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:midcwp:188568&r=afr |