2004 UC Proceedings Abstract
Why the Poor in Rural Malawi Are Where They Are Track: Sustainable Development and Humanitarian Affairs Author(s): Todd Benson We examine factors that might explain the spatial distribution of poverty in rural Malawi. This research is based on a poverty map for Malawi in which poverty measures for almost 3,500 spatially-defined populations were estimated. A regression framework is used for the analysis. The risk chain concept guides the selection of analytical variables--a shock to household welfare leading to response and resulting in a welfare outcome. One set of independent variables used are those that characterize the socio-economic and agro-ecological environment from which households obtain their livelihood, including the incidence of possible shocks to household welfare. Second, we consider a range of coping strategies that households might employ in response to shocks. The poverty mapping results provide the dependent variables. Overall, the explanatory power of the independent variables is low. Nevertheless, spatial correlates of poverty are identified that will be useful for geographically targeting anti-poverty efforts. Todd Benson International Food Policy Research Insititute Food Consumption & Nutrition Division 2033 K St. NW Washington , DC 20006 US Phone: 202-862-5667 Fax: 202-467-4439 E-mail: t.benson@cgiar.org |
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