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Poverty and the spatial distribution of rural population

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  • Barbier, Edward B.
  • Hochard, Jacob P.

Abstract

According to global spatial data sets in 2000 more than one-third of the rural population in developing countries was located on less favored agricultural land and areas. Less favored agricultural lands are susceptible to low productivity and degradation, because their agricultural potential is constrained biophysically by terrain, poor soil quality, or limited rainfall. Less favored agricultural areas include less favored agricultural lands plus favorable agricultural land that is remote, that is, land in rural areas with high agricultural potential but with limited access. The paper presents tests of whether these spatial distributions of rural population influence poverty directly or indirectly via income growth in 83 developing countries from 2000 to 2012. The analysis finds no evidence of a direct impact on poverty, but there is a significant indirect impact via the elasticity of poverty reduction with respect to growth. Reducing poverty requires targeting rural populations in less favored lands and remote areas, in addition to encouraging out-migration in some areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Barbier, Edward B. & Hochard, Jacob P., 2014. "Poverty and the spatial distribution of rural population," Policy Research Working Paper Series 7101, The World Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:7101
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Barbier, Edward B., 2016. "Is green growth relevant for poor economies?," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 178-191.
    2. Abman, Ryan & Carney, Conor, 2020. "Agricultural productivity and deforestation: Evidence from input subsidies and ethnic favoritism in Malawi," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    3. Tschirley, David & Reardon, Thomas, 2016. "Impact on Employment and Migration of Structural and Rural Transformation," Food Security International Development Working Papers 245895, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.
    4. Bakehe, Novice Patrick, 2018. "Productivité agricole et déforestation dans le bassin du Congo," Économie rurale, French Society of Rural Economics (SFER Société Française d'Economie Rurale), vol. 366(October-D).
    5. Rudzani Vhuyelwani Angel Mudzielwana & Paramu Mafongoya & Maxwell Mudhara, 2022. "An Analysis of Livelihood-Diversification Strategies among Farmworker Households: A Case Study of the Tshiombo Irrigation Scheme, Vhembe District, South Africa," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-17, November.
    6. Hochard, Jacob & Barbier, Edward, 2017. "Market Accessibility and Economic Growth: Insights from a New Dimension of Inequality," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 279-297.
    7. Sidney Madsen, 2022. "Farm-level pathways to food security: beyond missing markets and irrational peasants," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 39(1), pages 135-150, March.
    8. Rakhi Mondal & Biswaranjan Mistri, 2021. "Opencast coal mining and rural livelihoods: a study of Sonepur-Bazari mine in Raniganj coalfield area, West Bengal, India," Mineral Economics, Springer;Raw Materials Group (RMG);Luleå University of Technology, vol. 34(3), pages 477-490, October.

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    Keywords

    Rural Poverty Reduction; Regional Economic Development; Population Policies; Achieving Shared Growth;
    All these keywords.

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