Volume 4, Number 1 (June 2013)—download Full Issue
MAKING THE RICE BOWL BIGGER:
AGRICULTURAL OUTPUT AND RURAL POVERTY IN THAILAND
By Lila Rieber
This article examines agricultural output and rural poverty in Thailand, a transforming economy in which agriculture plays a shrinking but still important role. It analyzes the effectiveness of strategies to reduce poverty and increase output, while noting that these can exacerbate inequality. These strategies range from investing in human development, to agricultural research and development, to financial and trade policies. Strategies to minimize inequality without stifling growth are briefly covered. Also considered is the future of the Green Revolution: how can Thailand maintain technological progress and increases in total factor productivity while minimizing degradation of the environment?
GENDER DISCRIMINATION:
A PROBLEM STUNTING HONDURAS’ ENTIRE ECONOMY
By Rachel Lomot
Honduras is a developing country located in Central America that has been notorious for its maltreatment of women and the prevalence of sex and labor trafficking. However, in the last decade many laws have been put in place by the Honduran government to provide rights and protection to its women. Despite legislation, many women still face daily domestic violence and discrimination in the work place. The country still lives by its machismo values, meaning that it is a male-dominated society. Women are half the population, and thus have the potential to be a huge benefit in the economy. Until women can enter into the workforce the Honduran economy will stay as stunted.
POVERTY AND GENDER INEQUALITY IN POST-WAR EL SALVADOR
By Olivia Bell
This article analyzes the rise and fall of poverty and gender discrimination in El Salvador, with a focus on the 1992-present post-war era. Graphs containing official World Bank data on employment rates, school enrollment, poverty headcounts, and GDP growth are provided as both background information and correlating visuals for the discussion topics. The paper explores the ways that trends in poverty and gender inequalities overlap and provides examples as to how the violent civil war left an impact on life in El Salvador. Post-War reforms and programs are studied and conclusions are made as to the most effective ways to reduce and end poverty and gender inequality in El Salvador.
WATER POVERTY IN RURAL ETHIOPIA:
EFFECTS ON WOMEN, HEALTH AND THE POVERTY CYCLE
By Bailey Edelstein
Millions of people suffer from water poverty worldwide. Specifically, the rural regions of Ethiopia are plagued by the lack of access to adequate water sources. Ethiopia’s arid climate is especially unforgiving to the women whose primary role is to collect water from distant sources. Among their other responsibilities, water retrieval inflicts the highest level of stress upon a woman, physically and psychosocially. The task of water collection has been gender specific to Ethiopian women for generations and their time spent traveling to and from water sources implies significant opportunity costs. While access to water in these rural communities has improved, there is a continuous need for the development and modernization of water retrieval methods.