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We examine the impact of a government-initiated CSR project on corporate misconduct using the unique setting of China's Targeted Poverty Alleviation (TPA) program. The difference-in-differences estimates show that firms participating in the TPA program engage in fewer misconduct activities than do their counterparts. This finding is robust to the parallel trends test, the placebo test, alternative regression specifications, alternative research designs, the reverse causality analysis, and the bivariate probit model with partial observability. Further analysis shows that TPA participation enhances the ability of external financial professionals to monitor performance by stimulating the dissemination of TPA-related incremental information, thereby contributing to the decline in corporate misconduct. The cross-sectional heterogeneity analysis shows that the impact of TPA participation on corporate misconduct is more pronounced in firms with higher information asymmetry, with weaker political connections, and with weaker internal governance. Furthermore, we find evidence that TPA participation improves corporate financial performance but does not deteriorate information transparency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agroforestry is practiced in Africa for food production and reducing biodiversity loss among others. Despite the potential of agroforestry, inadequate information exists on how women and youth practice it to combat food insecurity and income poverty in semi-arid lands. We assessed the contributions of women and youth in agroforestry to enhance food security and income generation. Data collection methods included household surveys, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. We employed Kruskal-Wallis statistical test to examine variations in responses between villages using SPSS, while content analysis was applied for qualitative data. Estimated mean crop yields in tons per hectare for agroforestry included: maize (1.98), sunflower (1.43), millet (2.34), sorghum (1.92), and cassava (32.1). For land without agroforestry, the yields were 1.08, 1.50, 1.72, 1.02, and 36.8 tons per hectare, respectively. The estimated average annual income per household from agroforestry was Tsh 1,367,304 (USD 586), compared to Tsh 767,211 (USD 329) from non-agroforestry systems. The main scholarly contributions of the paper are that engaging women and youth in agroforestry improves food security and alleviate poverty in Africa. Therefore, women and youth should receive technical and financial support to practice agroforestry for sustainable food production and reduced income poverty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent decades have witnessed the globalisation of policies promoting social cash transfers as a critical instrument for poverty reduction. Among various approaches, the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) model promoted by the World Bank has gained discursive dominance in countries where this strategy, and its technical model for implementation, appear more attractive than competing alternatives. While research has evaluated CCT programmes and considered the politics of development that they represent in Latin America, researchers are yet to explore the constitutive effects of CCT ways of knowing and measuring poverty in the societies of rural Asia. This paper explores the consequences of CCT knowledge politics in rural Indonesia. It argues that CCT practices of knowing and measuring have paradoxical effects. The programme makes direct payments to millions of impoverished households, producing well-documented patterns of inclusion and advancement. Yet, CCT knowledge practices involve simplifications and generate significant mis-targeting, eliciting a never-ending repair process among state actors, local leaders, and communities. This metricised knowledge system depoliticises political questions of distribution. It conceals alternative ways of knowing and addressing poverty, producing an order of entitlements somewhat at odds with established community logics of inclusion, while provoking a local politics of distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entrepreneurship has become a prominent strategy for overcoming poverty, but few studies have identified the specificities of different entrepreneurial configurations in indigenous contexts. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze positive effects and their relationship with participants' profiles of entrepreneurial programs, from the experiences and meanings of Mapuche people (mostly women) in poverty and social vulnerability situation in rural and urban contexts. A qualitative study was conducted in rural and urban areas considering a total of 19 respondents. Results focus on woman experiences showing three types of Mapuche entrepreneur women profiles (fighter, submissive and reluctant) and their trajectories in entrepreneurship programs, considering their responses to their background, their relationship with the program and profile-specific positive effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foreign aid has been a critical instrument in addressing economic development and poverty reduction in many low-income countries. This article investigates the relationship between foreign aid, economic growth, and poverty reduction in Bolivia, shedding light on how various factors, including institutional quality, human capital, economic freedom, and the level of democracy influence the effectiveness of foreign aid. Employing smooth transition autoregressive models, the analysis highlights the intricate interplay between foreign aid, economic growth, and poverty reduction. The empirical findings provide evidence that foreign aid exerts a positive influence on both economic growth and poverty reduction, especially when aligned with investments in human capital and the enhancement of economic freedom. However, the revelations brought forth by this study challenge the conventional wisdom, revealing that these relationships are not linear. In emphasizing the nuanced nature of aid's impact on economic development and poverty reduction, this study contributes significantly to the ongoing discourse on foreign aid efficacy. It underscores the importance of tailoring aid interventions to the specific contextual intricacies of the recipient country. The interplay between foreign aid, institutional quality, human capital, economic freedom, and democratic governance makes clear that a tailored, context-specific approach is needed for foreign aid to have the best possible impact. If the case of Bolivia serves as a useful example for other developing nations, the principal recommendation emanating from these findings is that foreign aid must be carefully tailored to the unique needs and challenges of the recipient nation. A one-size-fitsall approach is insufficient in harnessing aid's full potential to foster sustainable economic growth and meaningful poverty reduction. The findings presented here serve not only as a contribution to the academic literature but also as a roadmap for policymakers and development practitioners navigating the complex terrain of foreign aid. By emphasizing the intricate dynamics of foreign aid and other important institutional, economic, and human capital factors, the empirical findings in this article advance the understanding of foreign aid's role as a catalyst for transformative change and set the stage for more targeted, effective interventions in the pursuit of economic development and poverty eradication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human race has been confronting the issue of poverty which is threatening its continued existence for a long time. Poor access to finance can lead to poverty this breeds health issues, lack of access to social and recreational facilities, social delinquencies, reduced living standard, malnutrition and economic difficulties. The goal of defeating poverty in its various ramification remains a cardinal concern for policy formulators in the Nigerian state and international bodies such as the World Bank and United Nations. Following the thriving emergence of financial technology (fintech) in Nigeria, there exist a dearth in academic researches to examine how fintech can be a driver in the reduction of poverty. This study examined the impact of financial technology on poverty reduction in Nigeria. Data on poverty rate, financial technology, mortality rate, literacy rate and gross domestic products were obtained from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in Nigeria and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) statistical bulletin for the period of 1991 - 2021. This study employed the multiple linear regression estimation technique to analyse collected data as it examines a cross-section of major key independent variables across a time series data, on the premise of a common effect model. Data analysed indicates a negative and significant nexus between poverty rate and financial technology innovation. The result also suggest that literacy rate and poverty rate have a negative and insignificant relationship. The poverty rate was also found to be positively and insignificantly related to mortality rate and gross domestic products respectively. The study findings have several significant policy implications. Firstly, infrastructures that support internet and mobile telephony should be expanded by providing incentives for investment since technology is the backbone of the operations of fintech. Secondly, education on fintech, information communication technology and finance should be increased to fill the gap among citizens who are not technological inclined especially in the rural areas to increase the use of fintech. Lastly, there should be further regulatory interventions through reforms to remove the barriers to credit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the various fundamental causes of rural poverty in China and justifies its eradication within the framework of a new rural renewal strategy. The main objective of this research lies in conducting a multidimensional analysis of the causes of rural poverty in China, examining the trends in its evolution, and substantiating the prospects for the development of rural territories within the country. The primary research methods are multidimensional quantitative and qualitative analyses of rural development in China and poverty and its causes. According to the study, rural households' economic well-being is still very low in Central and Western China's 22 provinces and other comparable administrative units. In 2022, per capita disposable income of rural households was 40.9% of the income of urban households nationwide. Compared to the year 2000, the average Engel Coefficient has decreased from 48.3%, indicating a moderately prosperous standard of living, to 33%, an excellent qualitative indicator of a certain improvement in rural living standards. The research uncovered a direct relationship between the income of rural households and regional gross domestic product, exports, budgetary expenditures, and the proportion of secondary and tertiary industries in the local economy. A dynamic econometric model has been proposed to elucidate the interdependence between exogenous and endogenous factors influencing the genesis of multidimensional poverty in rural regions. Given the global significance of China's rural strategies, the incorporation of these research findings makes an additional contribution to the global discourse on the development of rural areas and their prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economic development and industrialization are usually associated with severe environmental pollution. Differently, China's poverty alleviation programs did not compromise its environment for the sake of economic development. China has lifted hundreds of poverty-stricken counties out of absolute poverty following the implementation of various poverty alleviation policies. We take a staggered difference-in-difference approach within a quasi-experiment to examine the effects of "poverty hat" removal on air pollution. Using panel data of poverty-stricken counties in China for the period 2013–2018, we identify the causal effects on PM2.5, PM10, and SO2 concentration reduction. Our results suggest that removing the poverty hat prompted the counties to reduce their air pollution. By studying the mining, photovoltaic, and tourism industries, we find that removing the poverty hat has improved air quality by increasing carbon sequestration and reducing resource depletion. • Uses a staggered DID to examine poverty hat removal and air pollution. • Identifies the causal effects on pollutant reduction. • Checks the channels of resource depletion. • Tests the poverty-environment trade-off at the county level. • Finds evidence through the mining, photovoltaic, and tourism industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study empirically examines whether economic globalization reduces (enhances) the level of poverty in the top (bottom) globalized region by controlling economic growth, urbanization, government expenditure, and public expenditure on education. This issue has taken Europe and Central Asia (ECA) as the top (16) and South Asia (SA) as the bottom (7) economic globalized developing region for the empirical analysis for the period of 1991-2020. Two empirical models, non-linear ARDL and PMG-ARDL, estimate the impact of globalization (trade and financial openness) and education on poverty. This study also segregates economic globalization into de jure and de facto to critically analyze the impact on poverty reduction. The long-run results suggest that economic globalization has a negative (positive) effect on poverty in the top (bottom) globalized region. Apart from globalization, primary education is insufficient for reducing poverty in the ECA region, while primary education is enough to reduce poverty in the SA region. After replacing economic globalization with trade and financial openness, the results reveal that more trade openness is difficult for reducing poverty in top globalized developing countries. On the contrary, financial openness reduces (enhances) poverty in the top (bottom) globalized region. Additionally, the impact of de jure and de facto economic globalization are similar throughout the regions. The effects of control variables are mixed in nature. From a policy perspective, the government of these two regions should use education as a weapon to lower poverty vulnerability by improving its quality and giving extensive focus on trade and financial openness to find out the leakage of the financial flows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-parent households have been the interest of policy since the 1990s in the Taiwanese context. As the impacts of the existing support to single-parent households remains unclear, this research is aimed at empirically comparing the distributional effects of policies on two-parent families and single-parent families with children, with the factors of gender, employment status and co-residence of the head of household being taken into account. Using data from Survey of Family Income and Expenditure for the years 1990, 2000, 2010 and 2019, the findings show that the economic gap between two-parent and single-parent families is growing. There have been clear signs of poverty mitigation for two-parent and single-parent families, showing that a general redistributive policy in Taiwan has been pursued to address poverty reduction for all families, but favour single-parent families. Based on the findings, policy suggestions are made regarding how to address single-parent families' financial wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examines how executive motivation and firm capability jointly influence corporate contribution to poverty alleviation. Using a sample of Chinese listed firms, we find that firms whose executives possess political connections or experienced poverty in childhood contribute more to poverty alleviation. Moreover, better-performing firms with politically connected executives make even more contributions, whereas firm performance does not affect the relationship between executives' childhood poverty experience and corporate contribution. We also document that the strength of political connections and the type of childhood poverty experience matter. Moreover, executive background and firm performance only affect corporations' cash contributions but do not influence their material contributions. Overall, our study reveals that corporate contribution to poverty alleviation is affected by both strategic and altruistic motives of executives and is subject to the influence of firm performance especially when executives are driven by political motives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agroforestry practices (AFPs) play a critical role in enhancing income and reducing poverty. This study assessed the effect of AFPs on income and poverty status of farmers in Lay Armachiho (LA), Bahir Dar Zuria (BDR), and Banja districts of Northwestern Ethiopia. 387 households, and 63 key informants were interviewed. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, FGT index, Gini coefficient, and multiple linear regression. About 49.35% of the respondents are categorized poor with a poverty gap of 18.93 and a poverty severity level of 9.7. Banja was the greatest with persons below poverty level (59.2%), followed by BDR (49.72%). Agroforestry practices contribute 28.43% to household income. Income from AFPs lowered the poverty ratio, poverty gap index, and poverty severity level of households by 13%, 9%, and 7%, respectively. Income from AFPs lowered the area between the line of equality and the Lorenz curve, as well as the Gini coefficient, by 7.97%. AFPs also lowered the income disparity of households in all districts. Age, AFPs land size, road accessibility, irrigation, AFPs experience, and AFPs types affect households AFPs income positively. Family size and membership to credit institutions had a negative effect. Thus, in order to lower poverty and raise household income, labor productivity, the credit service system, the road and irrigation infrastructure, and AFPs all need to be improved and scaled up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social safety nets are expanding in Sub-Saharan Africa. While proponents perceive them as a means to combat poverty and vulnerability, opponents view them as wasteful use of scarce public resources and do not significantly overcome poverty. Previous studies have primarily focused on assessing the impact of these policies on current poverty levels, with insufficient evidence available regarding their impact on future poverty, which deserves equal attention. We drew on the Tanzanian 2017–18 Household Budget Survey, comprising 9,463 households to evaluate the impact of productive social safety net (PSSN) program on households' vulnerability to poverty (VP). The VP was evaluated using vulnerability as expected poverty (VEP), whereas the impact was estimated using Instrumental Variable (IV) method. We found that PSSN reduces household VP by 13.4%, suggesting that it is an effective policy instrument for reducing poverty and vulnerability. Notably, the estimated impacts were greater for households enrolled in conditional cash transfer (CCT) and public work (PW) combined, suggesting that a package of CCT and PW is likely to have a more substantial impact within the realm of social safety nets. Our findings offer evidence in favor of policies that promote the broader expansion of social safety nets as anti-poverty policy instruments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Eradicating poverty is the primary objective of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. While China has achieved great success in achieving poverty reduction targets, reducing the poverty vulnerability of rural households is crucial for ensuring the sustainability of poverty reduction gains. The purpose of land transfer is to ensure the continuous increase of farmers' income through efficient land use; it has become an important initiative for poverty alleviation in rural areas. Existing studies have confirmed the positive effect of land transfer on poverty alleviation, but few have explored the difference in the impact of land transfer on poverty vulnerability of households with different income structures. Methods: Using data from the China Family Panel Survey (CFPS) from 2010 to 2020, this paper empirically examines the impact of land transfer on poverty vulnerability. Results and discussion: The results show that land transfer has a significant positive impact on poverty vulnerability alleviation among rural households. Further comparing households with different livelihood structures, we find that land transfer is more effective in reducing poverty for non-farm employment-oriented household. Therefore, we suggest that the government should improve the land transfer system, increase agricultural subsidies, and consider the occupational differentiation among farmers to improve the poverty reduction effect of land transfer. These suggestions also provide a reference for promoting sustainable agricultural development and consolidating the achievements of poverty alleviation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the transformative potential of fourth industrial revolution (called Industry 4.0) technologies in the context of poverty elimination, with a particular focus on Africa. Given the multidimensional nature of poverty, which spans economic, social, and environmental aspects, there is a critical need for innovative and sustainable solutions. This paper presents a comprehensive literature review to identify how recent advancements, such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, blockchain, big data, and 5G can be harnessed to address various facets of poverty. Drawing on insights from existing research and expert opinions, we propose a conceptual framework that integrates these technologies with strategic policy interventions, infrastructure development, and capacity building. The paper proposes a framework that illustrates the prerequisite requirements before adopting Industry 4.0 technologies in poverty elimination efforts. This framework aims to ensure that the benefits of technological innovations are accessible to the most vulnerable populations, thereby contributing to the broader goals of socioeconomic development and poverty reduction. The work shows that while Industry 4.0 presents a critical opportunity for sustainable development and poverty elimination in Africa, it needs to have essential capacities to optimize the use of observations, visualizations, and mindset management before or when adopting the first stage of Industry 4.0 solutions for poverty elimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study conducts a Multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis guided content analysis of 56 Chinese government-sponsored poverty reduction posters across three historical stages since the founding of the People's Republic of China to understand visual strategies, represented participants, and thematic shifts. Initially, visual strategies focus on action-oriented, collective agricultural activities. Over time, they shift to highlighting technological advancements and individual achievements, using "offer" images and various perspectives to engage viewers. Early posters predominantly feature peasants and collective groups, later expanding to include individuals and technological symbols, reflecting China's socio-economic reforms. The thematic shifts move from collective efforts to targeted, locally-tailored strategies and the principle of "teaching people to fish," mirroring broader socio-political transformations. This evolution underscores the role of visual media in shaping public understanding and garnering support for national policies. By highlighting the dynamic interaction between visual elements and socio-political contexts, the study reveals how government-sponsored media has adapted to effectively communicate the progress and objectives of China's poverty alleviation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the focus on methane (CH4) reductions in the global climate negotiations has grown significantly. The 26th session of the Conference of Parties (COP26) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) urged countries to consider further actions to reduce non-carbon dioxide greenhouse gas emissions, including CH4, by 2030, which was reiterated by COP27 and COP28. This article discusses how an obsessive focus on CH4 reduction is a serious distraction from the real challenge of limiting and reducing CO2 emissions and masks the inability of developed countries to meet their commitments. Further, even with regard to reducing CH4 emissions, the article points out that these efforts need to be placed within national contexts and circumstances. In particular, CH4 emission reductions need to focus on energy, industry, and waste sector emissions rather than the agriculture sector to ensure that there are no adverse consequences for developmental imperatives such as protecting and enhancing small farmer livelihoods and ensuring food security. In this context, the article argues that India’s actions on CH4 are entirely consistent both with her national priorities and circumstances and with the foundational principles of the UNFCCC, which prioritize the importance of poverty alleviation and sustainable development for developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) rolled-out the Dangit Processing Livelihood FishCORALProject for the fishers’ organization in Prieto Diaz, Sorsogon in mid 2019 funded by UN-IFAD. Designed to help reduce poverty through increased household income, women participation and project sustainability. This study looked into the relevance, effectiveness and efficiency of implementation and readiness in attaining project objectives. The study is mixed descriptive method and used semi-structured questionnaire, key informants interview, FGD and secondary data analysis. The project was found relevant but poor in coordination and involvement of other stakeholders. Effective but failed to contribute to poverty reduction due to late implementation, no comprehensive project plans and technical support. Inefficient as it failed to translate resources it to incomes and sustained operations. The community organizationsare not ready and capable (lack technical and business management skills). The local resources (danggit, people and community organization) guarantee sustainability if managed appropriately. Women empowerment is hardly achieved. Recommendations;1) Develop project sustainability plan (technical and business facets of theproject), capacitate the organization along leadership and business management. 2) Bioecological data be produced on danggit stock to fine tune harvesting and regenerative capacity to ensure sustainability of supply. 3) Technical support provision coming from BFAR, LGU, academe, DTI, DOST, NLRC, NGOs in the form of product development, value adding, branding & packaging, business management, access to funds, assigning a full-time community facilitator as priority. Responsibilities and commitments of BFAR, LGU and the beneficiary be concretized through a memorandum of cooperation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Livelihood initiatives are common within marine protected areas (MPAs) aiming for poverty alleviation or higher income opportunities. However, results can be mixed in reality, as well as change over time. Furthermore, who benefits is a key consideration, as results can vary based on inequalities, including gender. Here, the monetary outcomes of different livelihood strategies were investigated across three MPA regions in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Using a quantitative approach, the results show that livelihoods have shifted in a six-year period, with livelihood strategies differing in poverty incidence and income. Livelihood initiatives, namely seaweed farming and tourism, did not provide significantly higher monetary returns compared to long-standing livelihoods, such as fisheries. Seaweed farming showed income stability but a high poverty incidence predominantly within women-headed households. During the study period, men primarily remained in fisheries, whilst women shifted to small-scale businesses and fisheries, largely exiting seaweed farming. This underscores a need for adaptive, gender sensitive management within fast changing coastal contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Greenflation or inflation for green energy transition in Europe becomes a structural problem of new scarcity and poverty, under Austrian Economics analysis. The current European public agenda on the Green Deal and its fiscal and monetary policies are closer to coercive central planning, against the markets, economic calculus, and Mises' theorem. In this paper, attention is paid to the green financial bubble and the European greenflation paradox: in order to achieve greater future social welfare, due to a looming climate risk, present wellbeing and wealth is being reduced, causing a real and ongoing risk of social impoverishment (to promote the SGD 13 on climate action, it is violated by SGD 1–3 on poverty and hunger and 7–12 on affordable energy, economic growth, sustainable communities, and production). According to the European Union data, the relations are explained between green transition and public policies (emissions, tax, debt, credit boom, etc.), GDP variations (real–nominal), and the increase of inflation and poverty. As many emissions are reduced, there is a decrease of GDP (once deflated) and GDP per capita, evidencing social deflation, which in turn means more widespread poverty and a reduction of the middle-class. Also, there is a risk of a green-bubble, as in the Great Recession of 2008 (but this time supported by the European Union) and possible stagflation (close to the 1970s). To analyze this problem generated by mainstream economics (econometric and normative interventionism), this research offers theoretical and methodological frameworks of mainline economics (positive explanations based on principles and empirical illustrations for complex social phenomena), especially the Austrian Economics and the New-Institutional Schools (Law and Economics, Public Choice, and Comparative Constitutional Economics). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examines how the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty program in Ghana is politicised and its implications for poverty reduction. Data from 26 in-depth interviews and 12 focus group discussions were analysed. The paper observes that a broad cross-party consensus exists because the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) program has been politicised by the two main political parties, namely the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party, who target the policy to their politically supportive districts and communities. The key pathway for the politicisation and subsequent expansion of the program is partisan manipulation of the District Level Implementation Committees (DLICs), partisan selection of beneficiaries, and party membership card as a requirement for inclusion. These political considerations tend to result in wrong targeting, where undeserving beneficiaries are included, thereby undermining sustained poverty reduction and inclusive development potential of the LEAP program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a novel subnational-level dataset of Thailand, the results show a strong spatial association between poverty and educational attainment in Thailand. Provinces with more educated populations are more likely to have lower poverty incidence. In particular, the findings of this study suggest that attainment of tertiary education can significantly affect poverty reduction, while the negligible effects of primary and secondary education could be due to the disparities in education quality. Therefore, the 9-year compulsory education provided by the Thai government might no longer be enough to reduce poverty, and tertiary education might play a more critical role in poverty alleviation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study is based on the premise that economic growth (henceforth EG) and poverty impact men and women differently. As a result, shocks to these variables cannot be expected to have a symmetric impact on gender inequality (henceforth GI). Rather, positive and negative shocks in poverty and EG impact men and women asymmetrically which necessitates the study of their relationship using an asymmetric rather than a symmetric approach. This study is the first to utilise nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) analysis and asymmetric cumulative dynamic multipliers to investigate the asymmetric impact of EG and poverty on GI in India using annual data over the period 1995–2021. Additionally, we construct a comprehensive index of GI, using principle component analysis (PCA), which is a maiden attempt to account reported crime against women, in addition to gender disparities in health, education, labour market and parliamentary representation. The results report that positive shocks in EG reduce GI and negative shocks increase it. However, negative shocks increase GI more than positive shocks decrease it justifying the asymmetry. With respect to the asymmetric impact of poverty on GI, the study finds that both positive and negative shocks in poverty increase GI, however, the positive shock in poverty has a larger impact than the negative one. This is in consonance with the literature on intrahousehold gender disparities in consumption. The study finds new evidence that EG and poverty reduction favours men more than women and recommends its inclusion in policy formulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poverty is a complex problem that affects millions of people worldwide. Despite the various measures taken, there is still a long way to go in eradicating poverty and improving the standard of living for all. This study evaluates the impact of an integrated approach, designed to address specific constraints faced by poor households, on poverty reduction and socio-economic development. The study employed a Randomized Controlled Trials design to evaluate the impact of the intervention. For the analysis, 100 households in the treatment group received the program, while the control group had an equal number of households that did not receive any assistance during the entire research period. Additionally, the study investigated 400 individuals to assess the individual-level outcomes. The findings suggested that the intervention had a positive impact on all economic and financial outcome variables of the treatment group. The study also reported an improvement in the personal lives of the participants by improving physical and mental health. Moreover, the results suggested that the intervention has contributed to increased political involvement and women's empowerment. In light of these findings, the study recommends an integrated approach that combines various poverty reduction measures to enhance the well-being of impoverished households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the dominant global development agendas for rural Africa in the past two decades has cast large-scale agro-industrial investments as a solution to achieve more efficient land use, higher crop yields, enhanced food security, and poverty reduction, among others. However, mounting evidence shows that this agenda has not fulfilled its promises: most land deals for agricultural production have not materialised as planned and their socio-economic development objectives often remain unreached. Despite the often severe impacts of non-operational projects, knowledge about why they fail to take place and operate remains fragmentary. Based on an extensive literature review of contemporary land deals in seven sub-Saharan countries, this paper sheds light on two 'productive gaps'. First, the article delves into the 'productive gap' of land deals themselves, identifying key drivers of non-operational land deals. The reviewed literature points to local opposition and financial difficulties as significant factors impacting agricultural operations. Local opposition, in turn, stems largely from flawed land acquisition processes and unfulfilled investors' promises. Second, this article offers a critical appraisal of the biases and oversights in the knowledge the land grab scholarship has 'produced'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The United Nations' Agenda 2030 has established a series of Sustainable Development Goals to address global challenges, including poverty, food insecurity, access to education, and social inequality. In this context, charitable organizations such as Caritas play a crucial role in mitigating the negative effects of these challenges and promoting fair and sustainable development. This study aims to analyze prevalent needs among individuals seeking assistance from Caritas in Campania and examine how the organization contributes to achieving the Agenda 2030 Goals in the region. The statistical investigation techniques considered include tandem analysis a dimension-reduction technique, such as multiple factor analysis, and then a cluster analysis to identify similar groups of individuals. These exploratory data analysis methods have allowed for the identification of common needs, including food assistance, support for education, employment, and housing assistance. Subsequently, Caritas programs and initiatives aimed at meeting these needs and promoting sustainable development are explored. The results indicate that Caritas plays a significant role in addressing the urgent needs of the vulnerable population in Campania and contributes to the goals of Agenda 2030, particularly those related to poverty alleviation, immigration, health promotion, education, employment, and the reduction of social inequalities. This study provides an important perspective on the relevance and effectiveness of Caritas's work in the context of Agenda 2030. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In China, firms actively participate in poverty alleviation to comply with the national policy and to build political connections. Whether firms curry favor with the government by increasing spending on poverty alleviation is an interesting research question under the context of anti-corruption campaigns. Using hand-collected data from the period 2016–2018, we examine how anti-corruption campaigns have influenced corporate poverty alleviation spending at the city level. Our results show that anti-corruption campaigns are positively related to corporate poverty alleviation spending. We further identify two possible channels through which the anti-corruption campaign increases corporate poverty alleviation spending: (1) political connections and (2) stock price crash risk. Finally, we find that the effects of the anti-corruption campaign on corporate poverty alleviation spending are stronger in firms located in cities with lower degrees of marketization, a lower media index, and a higher poverty rate, as well as in firms receiving fewer government subsidies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are fundamental to national economic development through poverty alleviation and employment creation. However, credit constraints severely challenge small and medium-sized enterprises' (SMEs) performance. Therefore, this study aims to establish the link between credit constraints and the financial performance of SMEs. The paper further examines whether the differences in performance between constrained and unconstrained firms can contribute to poverty reduction. To this end, the endogenous switching regression was applied to the cross-sectional data from a firm-level survey involving 520 SMEs from Cameroon. The paper considered four credit constraint categories: risk, quantity, price, and transaction cost. Results reveal that 74% of SMEs are credit constrained, and the majority (43%) are quantity constrained. Interestingly, risk and price-constrained SMEs are mainly more profitable than unconstrained SMEs, while quantity and transaction-cost-constrained SMEs are less profitable than their counterparts. Consequently, the impact on poverty reduction is equally varied. The scholarly and policy implications of the study are that alleviating credit constraints among SMEs does not always augment the profitability of the SMEs and contributes towards poverty eradication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many claim a high prevalence of single motherhood plays a significant role in America's high child poverty. Using the Luxembourg Income Study, we compare the "prevalences and penalties" for child poverty across 30 rich democracies and within the United States over time (1979–2019). Several descriptive patterns contradict the importance of single motherhood. The U.S. prevalence of single motherhood is cross-nationally moderate and typical and is historically stable. Also, child poverty and the prevalence of single motherhood have trended in opposite directions in recent decades in the United States. More important than the prevalence of single motherhood, the United States stands out for having the highest penalty across 30 rich democracies. Counterfactual simulations demonstrate that reducing single motherhood would not substantially reduce child poverty. Even if there was zero single motherhood, (1) the United States would not change from having the fourth-highest child poverty rate, (2) the 41-year trend in child poverty would be very similar, and (3) the extreme racial inequalities in child poverty would not decline. Rather than the prevalence of single motherhood, the high penalty for single motherhood and extremely high Black and Latino child poverty rates, which exist regardless of single motherhood, are far more important to America's high child poverty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food fortification with micronutrients was initially justified in developed countries by a lack of availability of micronutrients in staple crops, mainly due to soil exhaustion. However, in Sub-Saharan arable lands, soil fatigue is not predominant, and communities consume mostly home-grown, organic, non-processed crops. Sub-Saharan food systems are nevertheless deeply entwined with food insecurity, driver of illnesses. Family production can promote subsistence, food stability, and self-sufficiency, the main SSA setback being the vicious cycle of poverty and the lack of dietary variety, contributing to malnutrition. Poverty reduction and women's education are significant strategies for reducing child and adolescent undernourishment. Fortification of foods consumed daily by individuals makes sense and can minimize, if not entirely, eliminate deficiencies. Compulsory mass fortification of foods in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) with single micronutrients is, however, controversial since they work in synergy among each other and with the food matrix, for optimal absorption and metabolism. Since the causes of malnutrition are many, caused by diverse, unequal, and unjust food distribution, interrelated with political, social, cultural, or economic factors, education status of the population, season and climatic changes, and effectiveness of nutrition programs, just food fortification cannot solve the composite of all these elements. Further, compulsory fortification is excessive, unproductive, and likely harmful to human health, while many challenges remain in assessing the quality of available premixes. Furthermore, aiming at dietary diversification is the best approach of increasing trace element intake from commonly accessible and easily available food sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While Thailand's cross-border trade of electricity with Laos has positive impacts on the national economy, its local livelihood effects remain uncertain. This study evaluates livelihood impacts of electricity consumption in the border trade area of Nong Khai, Thailand by conducting a survey with 339 local households and key informant interviews with six local leaders and residents based on the sustainable livelihood framework. The data were analyzed mainly using descriptives and inferential statistics with some insights from content analysis. The results revealed moderate levels of livelihood outcomes. The lowest impact area was the creation of job opportunities, while the highest impact area was well-being and individual capabilities. Households' participation in border electricity trade policies was at low level. Multiple regression analysis indicated that perceived benefits of border electricity trade, participation in policy processes, and community-level fixed effect contributed to livelihood outcomes, while income, expenditure, energy expenditure, and policy awareness did not have significant effects. While the direct impacts on job opportunities and poverty reduction were limited, perceived benefits had a positive influence on well-being, adaptation, and collaborative natural resource sustenance. The findings suggest a need to increase local participation in border electricity trade policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Payment for watershed ecosystem services (PES) has been applied to water conservation and poverty reduction in an increasing number of developing countries. This study evaluates the effect of payment for watershed ecosystem services on farmers' income in conservation intervention areas using a difference-in-differences model and a panel dataset that covers 18 countries in the Xin'an River Basin in China for fourteen consecutive years (2006–2019). The results show that PES programs increase farmers' income and that the poverty reduction effect is sustainable. The PES programs mainly increase the farmers' income in conservation intervention areas through two paths: triggering the transfer of agricultural labor and promoting agricultural restructuring. PES programs are pro-poor and more conducive to increasing the income of farmers in upstream regions and counties with lower levels of economic development. This paper reveals the specific role played by PES in promoting rural poverty reduction in developing countries, providing insights into alleviating the contradiction between poverty and watershed ecosystem protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring poverty reduction requires frequent microdata on household welfare that can be compared over time. Such data are unavailable in many countries, given limited statistical capacity, shocks that prevent data collection, and regular improvements to survey methodology. This paper demonstrates how jointly deploying backcasting and survey-to-survey imputations can help to overcome this in a setting where estimating a poverty trend is badly needed, given the scale of the poverty-reduction challenge, but where survey-to-survey imputations are more likely to succeed and can be directly tested. In Nigeria, the most recent official survey that can be used to construct an imputation model was collected through the same methodology and in the same year as the target survey. This data landscape could arise in other settings where the methodology for smaller, interstitial surveys is updated more quickly than for larger, official consumption surveys. Naively comparing Nigeria's last two official consumption surveys would suggest that the poverty rate fell by 17 percentage points between 2009 and 2019. Yet the methods presented in this paper both suggest a much smaller reduction in poverty of between 3 and 7 percentage points, echoing Nigeria's performance on nonmonetary welfare indicators over the same period. The paper therefore provides guidance on when and how backcasting and survey-to-survey imputation techniques can be most valuable for monitoring poverty reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Although recent years have witnessed a considerable increase in studies on the economic value of ecological products, the extant literature has overlooked the multidimensional enhancement of ecological product value from the perspective of farmers' well-being. This research aims to examine how the Realization of Ecological Product Value (EPVR) serves as a crucial pathway to promoting the overall well-being of farmers in developing countries. Through a case study of a village in southeastern China, this research reveals that EPVR can enhance farmers' well-being via various mechanisms as follows: (1) Economic solution to enrich farmers' livelihood diversity, achieved by leveraging rural resource endowments and comparative advantages; (2) Fair social protection program enabling farmers to enjoy ecological benefits and further achieving urban-rural integration; (3) Environmental protection plan that balances production, living, and ecology; and (4) Grassroots governance tool promoting the governance ability to form collaborative governance model in a community of shared interests. This study offers theoretical support for enhancing human well-being through the realization of ecological product value in rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal of Professional Business Review (JPBReview) is the property of AOS: ESTRATEGIA & INOVACAO and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The rapid increase in the global human population, particularly in Low-Income Food Deficit Countries (LIFDCs), causes severe food shortages. Food shortages are complex and can be linked to economic, environmental, social, and political variables. Harnessing village chicken products serves as a cheap commercial chicken substitute to address food shortages. The consumption and sales of protein products from village chickens, such as meat, eggs, and internal organs, ensures food security and poverty alleviation in limited-resource communities. However, village chickens have poor-quality end products due to poor management and animal-rearing resources. Village chicken production challenges include the absence of high-quality feed, biosecurity, recordkeeping, housing, and commercial marketing of its end products. Management being based on cultural gender roles instead of the possession of formal poultry management training further limits village chicken production. To improve village chicken end-product quality, poultry management trainings for rural women are suggested due to studies showing that women mainly manage village chicken production. Furthermore, to create a formal market share of village chickens, sensory evaluations need to be conducted using mainstream poultry consumers. This review examined the potential contribution of village chickens in achieving Sustainable Development Goals—one, No Poverty and two, Zero Hunger—to benefit vulnerable groups in resource-poor communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study explored NGOs' strategies toward asset accumulation and poverty reduction in Zimbabwe using a case study of three NGOs in the Chegutu District. Despite several NGOs operating in the Chegutu District, asset problems are conspicuously reflected by income struggles, school children dropping out of school and the social exclusion of the communities. Thus, the study analyzed the role of NGOs in asset accumulation and the relationship between asset accumulation and poverty reduction. It emerged that NGOs are using ISALS, nutritional gardens, service provision, income-generating activities (IGAs) and vocational training (VT) to engender the accumulation of financial, social, physical and human assets. As households accumulate sufficient levels of financial assets through interventions like ISALS, VT and nutritional gardens, there is improved social wellbeing, shedding light on the nexus between asset accumulation and poverty reduction. The study was qualitative in nature with data collected through the use of in-depth interviews and FGDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Income-related food insecurity is an important determinant of health. Persons with disabilities are at a higher risk of experiencing household food insecurity (HFI) than those without disabilities. The main objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of HFI for persons with different types, numbers, and severity of disabilities, and to examine sociodemographic correlates of HFI among this group. Data and methods Data from the 2021 Canadian Income Survey (CIS) were used. Disability status was assessed using the short version of the Disability Screening Questions module for one randomly selected household respondent. The Household Food Security Survey Module measured HFI as marginal, moderate, or severe. Weighted descriptive and multivariable analyses were conducted to estimate the prevalence of HFI and analyze the association between various socioeconomic factors and HFI among the study sample. Results Among CIS participants with disabilities (30% of the total CIS sample: 31 million persons), 26% reported some level of HFI, including 8% with severe HFI. The prevalence of HFI was 13% among those without disabilities. The prevalence of HFI was highest among those with a learning, memory, or seeing disability, at around 36% for each of those types. Levels of HFI were higher for those with more severe disabilities and with a greater number of disabilities. For persons with disabilities, the odds of HFI were two times higher, compared with persons without disabilities (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 2.5 [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.2, 2.7]), after adjustment for a range of sociodemographic covariates. Persons with disabilities who were in the lowest income quintile (AOR: 4.0 [95% CI: 3.2, 4.9]) and aged 45 to 54 (AOR: 2.9 [95% CI: 2.1, 4.1]) had the highest odds of HFI, compared with other persons with disabilities living in wealthier households and those aged 65 and older, respectively. Other risk factors included being in a one-parent household, living in the Prairies, and living in a dwelling not owned by the household. Interpretation HFI prevalence among CIS participants with disabilities was higher than for persons without disabilities, even after adjustment for well-documented sociodemographic risk factors. Consistent monitoring of HFI among persons with disabilities can help inform any ongoing or newly developed poverty reduction strategies for this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study on poverty dynamics has become more critical during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study gives insights into the scale of poverty and vulnerability transitions for 2019–2020 and the characteristics associated with each transition. Since panel data are unavailable for Indonesia, this study uses cross-sectional data and demonstrates the synthetic panels approach. The finding shows that the COVID-19 has induced poverty persistence in Indonesia as the economic shutdown took place. However, the pandemic impact is not uniformly distributed among Indonesian households. Those who fell into poverty during the pandemic most likely came from the vulnerable group, especially those living in rural areas, illiterate or with less education. The findings of this study, therefore, underlines the importance of literacy and education in poverty alleviation. This paper also highlights the urgency for redesigned poverty interventions as the economic shock has created new vulnerable groups. Higher probability of becoming vulnerable to poverty during the pandemic is associated with living in urban areas, having females as the household head, being a university graduate, and working in service sectors. Lastly, this study found that the synthetic panel estimates are sensitive to the assumptions made and how the key parameters are estimated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Firm clusters are considered as a contributing factor to local economic development. However, there are limited studies on the effect of firm clusters on the well‐being of rural communities, particularly in terms of income improvement, poverty reduction, and migration. Our research aims to shed light on these relationships at both the household and commune levels. For empirical analysis, we employ the propensity score matching method to mitigate endogeneity bias. Our results reveal the role of firm clusters in increasing income and reducing poverty. Firm clusters also contribute to decreasing labor emigration and attracting immigrants. However, the magnitude of these impacts is relatively small, with moderate effects on income and modest effects on poverty and migration. In particular, firm clusters reduce the commune poverty rate by around 2.36%–2.51% and enhance household annual income by approximately 16.46–17.08 million VND (725–752 USD). Furthermore, analyses at the household level highlight the significance of larger clusters in improving household income. Our research underscores policy implications for rural development with a specific emphasis on firm clusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study empirically examines the role of behavioral factors in the perpetuation of poverty through a comparison of the behavior of poor and nonpoor household members across five major dimensions. The study found evidence supporting the presence of suboptimal decision-making among poor in the surveyed region. The poor were found to indulge in irrational spending patterns and have higher present bias, risk-aversion, lower aspirations, lack of institutional trust, and gender bias than nonpoor persons. This becomes a cause of a vicious cycle of poverty. Targeting these problematic behavioral tendencies of poor individuals can help provide a low-cost solution for sustainable reduction of the magnitude of poverty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Health and Medical Assistance Program for Poverty Alleviation is part of China's targeted poverty elimination strategy, which aims to protect poor people's right to health and prevent them from becoming trapped in or returning to poverty because of illness. Many tasks have been defined in this program, including raising the medical insurance level, providing a triage system, improving medical and health services, and enhancing people's health. One pivotal aspect of this initiative involves equitable health resource allocation, a key measure aimed at bolstering medical and health services. This study aimed to analyze and compare health resource allocations in different counties in Northwest China after the implementation of the program. Methods: The Gini coefficient quantifies the level of distributional equality, the Theil index assesses the sources of inequality, and the Health Resource Agglomeration Degree gauges the accessibility of health resources. Results: 1) The health resource allocation distributed based on population(Gini Coefficient < 0.45) was more equitable than that distributed based on area(Gini Coefficient > 0.35) among counties in Northwest China. 2) The contribution rate within non-impoverished counties is higher than that of impoverished counties, which means the inequality within non-impoverished counties. 3) The allocation of beds in medical institutions by area in non-impoverished counties was better than that in impoverished counties, and accessibility to health services for residents in non-impoverished counties was better than that in impoverished counties. Conclusion: The analysis of health resource allocation among the five provinces in Northwest China revealed significant differences in equality among the five provinces in Northwest China, and the differences were mainly derived from the non-impoverished counties. Although the equality is gradually improving, the number of health resources in impoverished counties remain lower than that in non-impoverished counties.Subsequently, it is essential to ensure equitable distribution of healthcare resources while also taking into account their utilization and quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the 2010s, new family benefits were introduced in Hungary, focusing on large families to halt population decline. However, poverty reduction became sidelined, as these schemes benefited higher‐income earners. Based on poverty statistics, the article investigates how two family types associated with a higher risk of poverty—large families and single‐parent families—fare under this new selective pronatalist system. Furthermore, based on new representative national survey data, the article explores public support for the reforms. Although the income poverty rate for large families significantly decreased during the 2010s, it remained persistently high for single‐parent families, especially large single‐parent families. The findings indicate strong public support for state assistance to large, single‐parent and poor families and state pronatalism. However, the public prioritises support for poor, single‐parent families. This underscores a partial mismatch between public attitudes and government policy. Nonetheless, this policy probably secured public legitimacy, chiefly due to the general support for state pronatalism and large families, which were vigorously implemented in family policies, albeit selectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poverty remains a major challenge for the countries of the global south. Decent employment opportunity, a crucial determinant of poverty reduction, is increasingly becoming elusive for those countries regardless of a decent rate of economic growth. There is a growing separation of economic growth and employment growth under the aegis of neo-liberal economic policies. Economic growth, instead of becoming inclusive, turns out to be “jobless” or “job loss.” Failing to reverse this trend, “Active Labour Market Policies” (ALMPs) in the form of “Public Works Programmes” (PWPs) have emerged as a major strategy to reduce unemployment and poverty. Secondly, rural–urban migration is very much relied upon for the same. Raising agricultural productivity, a crucial question of “agrarian transition,” well evident and verified across the globe, is, however, becoming oblivion in the fight against poverty. In this context, based on a primary survey of 300 households in the poorest regions of India, this paper endeavors to investigate the relative strength of MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act), rural–urban migration, and land productivity on poverty. The study suggests that an agrarian-centric intervention is more effective in dealing with poverty as compared to MGNREGA (ALMPs) and migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poverty is always associated with poor green infrastructure. Indonesia has a significant poverty rate and low green infrastructure investment. Therefore, this study uses fuzzy clustering with area weighting (FGWC-HHOP) and 2018 Potential Village Census (PODES) data to analyze green infrastructure risk and poverty in Indonesia. The first cluster, which is mainly urban, is vulnerable, while the second cluster has poor air quality and green infrastructure. Future government policies should encourage sustainable development, especially green infrastructure, to reduce social vulnerability. Consider green infrastructure and social vulnerability when planning urban expansion and poverty alleviation in Indonesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]