Description
The small-scale service and manufacturing sector, the rural nonfarm economy (RNFE), accounts for 35 to 50 percent of rural incomes across the developing world, according to Haggblade (international development, Michigan State U., US), Reardon (agricultural economics, Michigan State U.), and Hazell (visiting professor at Imperial College, London, UK), and can play a key role in promoting economic growth directly due to its size and responsiveness to markets and indirectly through provision of financing, processing, and marketing services that stimulate agricultural growth. This collection reviews empirical and policy experience with the RNFE. It contains 17 chapters summarizing current knowledge on the RNFE in the developing world, in particular its role as a source of livelihood for the rural poor; analyzing structural dynamics in the economy as a whole, at the household level, in interaction with agriculture, and in response to the twin forces of globalization and liberalization; and exploring the policy and institutional environment in China and India and also in terms of technology development and the supply chain. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
Read More
Contrary to conventional wisdom that equates rural economies with agriculture, rural residents in developing countries often rely heavily on activities other than farming for their income. Indeed, nonfarm work accounts for between one-third and one-half of rural incomes in the developing world. In recent years, accelerating globalization, increasing competition from large businesses, expanding urban markets for rural goods and services, and greater availability of information and communication technology have combined to expose rural nonfarm businesses to new opportunities as well as new risks. By examining these rapid changes in the rural nonfarm economy, international experts explore how the rural nonfarm economy can contribute to overall economic growth in developing countries and how the poor can participate in this rapidly evolving segment of the economy. The authors review an array of recent studies of the rural nonfarm economy in order to summarize existing empirical evidence, explore policy implications, and identify future research priorities. They examine the varied scale, structure, and composition of the rural nonfarm economy, as well as its relationship with agricultural and urban enterprises. And they address key questions about the role of public intervention in the rural nonfarm economy and how the rural poor can participate in and navigate the rapid transition underway in rural areas.The contributors offer new insights to specialists in rural development and to others interested in overall economic development. This book is the product of a joint study by the International Food Policy Research Institute and The World Bank.Contributors: Raisuddin Ahmed, Christopher B. Barrett, Julio Berdegué, Paul A. Dorosh, Steven Haggblade, Peter B. R. Hazell, Eric Hyman, Peter Lanjouw, Carl Liedholm, Donald C. Mead, Richard L. Meyer, Anit Mukherjee, Keijiro Otsuka, Thomas Reardon, Mitch Renkow, Kostas Stamoulis, and Xiaobo Zhang.
Read Less