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Rural Income Generating Activities; A Cross Country Comparison

Author

Listed:
  • Benjamin Davis

    (Agricultural and Development Economics Division, Food and Agriculture Organization)

  • Paul Winters

    (Agricultural and Development Economics Division, Food and Agriculture Organization)

  • Gero Carletto

    (Agricultural and Development Economics Division, Food and Agriculture Organization)

  • Katia Covarrubias

    (Agricultural and Development Economics Division, Food and Agriculture Organization)

  • Esteban Quinones

    (Agricultural and Development Economics Division, Food and Agriculture Organization)

  • Alberto Zezza

    (Agricultural and Development Economics Division, Food and Agriculture Organization)

  • Kostas Stamoulis

    (Agricultural and Development Economics Division, Food and Agriculture Organization)

  • Genny Bonomi

    (Agricultural and Development Economics Division, Food and Agriculture Organization)

  • Stefania DiGiuseppe

    (Agricultural and Development Economics Division, Food and Agriculture Organization)

Abstract
This paper uses a newly constructed cross country database composed of comparable variables and aggregates from household surveys to examine the full range of income generating activities carried out by rural households in order to determine: 1) the relative importance of the gamut of income generating activities in general and across wealth categories; 2), the relative importance of diversification versus specialization at the household level; 3) the relationship between key household assets and the participation in and income earned from these activities; and 4) the influence of rural income generating activities on poverty and inequality. Analysis of the RIGA cross country dataset paints a clear picture of multiple activities across rural space and diversification across rural households. This is true across countries in all four continents, though less so in the African countries included in the dataset. For most countries the largest share of income stems from off farm activities, and the largest share of households have diversified sources of income. Diversification, not specialization, is the norm, although most countries show significant levels of household specialization in non-agricultural activities as well. Nevertheless, agricultural based sources of income remain critically important for rural livelihoods in all countries, both in terms of the overall share of agriculture in rural incomes as well as the large share of households that still specialize in agricultural sources of income.

Suggested Citation

  • Benjamin Davis & Paul Winters & Gero Carletto & Katia Covarrubias & Esteban Quinones & Alberto Zezza & Kostas Stamoulis & Genny Bonomi & Stefania DiGiuseppe, 2007. "Rural Income Generating Activities; A Cross Country Comparison," Working Papers 07-16, Agricultural and Development Economics Division of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO - ESA).
    • Handle: RePEc:fao:wpaper:0716
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    rural non farm; income diversification; household surveys.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I32 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Measurement and Analysis of Poverty
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • O57 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Comparative Studies of Countries

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