This paper starts from the premise that diversification of assets, activities, and incomes is important to African rural households, in that diversification into nonfarm income constitutes on average about 45 percent of incomes, and the push and pull factors driving that diversification are...

A burgeoning recent literature emphasizes "livelihood" diversification among smallholder populations (Chambers and Conway 1992, Davies 1993, Ellis 1998, Bryceson 1999, Ellis 2000, Little et al. 2001). While definitions vary within this literature, the concept of livelihoods revolves around the...

This study presents a new explanation of asymmetric price behavior infood markets based on the presence of transactions costs,and provides evidence from a developing country. Price liberalization can in many cases be insufficient for efficien toperation of African food markets. This is mainly...

Major investments in infrastructure rehabilitation have been undertaken by govemments, development banks and donors in developing countries in recent decades. In Sub-Saharan Africa roaddeterioration isperceivedtobeoneofthemaincausesforthelimitedsupplyresponseafter price liberalization in...

In sectoral trade analysis, agriculture is generally assumed to be a tradable sector. However, this is not the case within the time frame envisioned for policy reform programs in many developing countries. In this time frame, there are no agricultural products that can be classified as purely...

Although it has been shown that the poor are more responsive to food price changes than other people, they still may face higher food prices. Evidence from Zaire shows that there exists a movement within the month in food prices corresponding to changes in food supply and food demand. This...

Integration of commodity markets in developing countries has received considerable attention because price integration is perceived to be central to the success of food and agricultural policies. Price integration tests are performed in retail markets in Kinshasa (Zaire), i.e. between...