Raluca I. Iorgulescu

Structural Adjustment Intensity, Vulnerability and Poverty in Africa

Nigeria has implemented structural adjustment policies for the past twenty years, with the intensity of reforms increasing each year. However, there is an ongoing debate as to whether strong adjustment is more effective than weak reforms in alleviating poverty in African economies. In this article, we use primary socio-economic data collected from two surveys, one conducted in 2001 and the other in 2007, of residents in the village of Umulwe in Southeastern Nigeria, to examine whether the intensity of structural adjustment policies has led to poverty reduction in the village. Specifically, we use changes in the poverty headcount index and the poverty gap index, as well as non-income measures to analyze the dynamics of poverty in the village. A cross-sectional OLS regression on the survey data does not indicate a direct link between structural adjustment and the poverty reduction observed in the village over time. By linking structural adjustment to changes in household behaviour, the article provides a micro-foundation for the analysis of the impact of structural adjustment on poverty.

Poverty, Socioeconomic Metabolism, and the Multi-scale Integrated Analysis Approach

Abstract Envisioning socioeconomic systems as metabolic systems allowed Georgescu-Roegen to build a ‘flow-fund’ model of production. Striving to implement Georgescu-Roegens bioeconomic paradigm some of his followers designed a method of meta-analysis (as a higher level of analysis) of the socioeconomic metabolism subject to the laws of thermodynamics called Multi-Scale Integrated Analysis of Societal and Ecosystem Metabolism (MuSIASEM). The resulting multi-scale integrated analytical toolkit was devised to investigate tradeoffs and synergies between different development goals. This paper introduces the basic MuSIASEM terminology and investigates the use of this approach to analyze the multidimensional concept of poverty, concept essential to a sustainable economy.

Spatial Distribution of Key Macroeconomic Growth Indicators in the EU-27: A Theoretical and Empirical Investigation

Convergence, both nominal and real, is occurring in the EU, especially for new members. Among the macroeconomic variables and correlations closely related to the convergence process are inflation, per capita GDP, the natural rate of unemployment and the inflation-unemployment relationship. This study concentrates on empirical analyses of the spatial distribution of these macroeconomic variables for the EU-27. Moreover, taking into account that the current level of productivity is implicitly influenced by the current unemployment rate, a simple estimate for “pure” productivity is proposed as a solution. Pure productivity must be neutral to short-run changes in employment, but in the long run it is affected by factors including general technological progress, rising education levels, growth of the R&D system and the expansion of the “new economy”. The estimated changes in the pure productivity level are compared to the dynamics of the natural rate of unemployment.

Assessment of Macro-Level Socioeconomic Factors That Impact Waterborne Diseases: The Case of Jordan

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is an example of a country that suffers from high water scarcity. Additionally, due to the economic drivers in the country, such as phosphate and potash extraction and pharmaceutical production, the little fresh water that remains is generally polluted. The infrastructure, often antiquated in urban areas and non-existent in rural areas, also contributes to poor water conditions and to the spread of waterborne diseases. This paper examines the socioeconomic factors that contribute to diarrhea and hepatitis A on a macro level in Jordan and discusses the public-policies that government officials could use to abate those problems. Ordinary least squares time series models are used to understand the macro-level variables that impact the incidence of these diseases in Jordan. Public health expenditure has a significant impact on reducing their incidence. Furthermore, investment in sanitation facilities in rural regions is likely to reduce the number of cases of hepatitis A. Perhaps the most surprising outcome is that importation of goods and services likely results in a decrease in cases of hepatitis A. However, income has little impact on the incidence of diarrhea and hepatitis A.