Abstract/Details

AN INTEGRATED ECONOMIC-DEMOGRAPHIC THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE ANALYSIS OF THE FACTORS RELATED TO THE RURAL LABOR FORCE IN THE GEZIRA SCHEME: A MICRO HOUSEHOLD LEVEL ANALYSIS (SUDAN)

YOUSIF, HASSAN MUSA.   University of Pennsylvania ProQuest Dissertations Publishing,  1985. 8523469.

Abstract (summary)

Although Sudan and many other African countries are predominantly rural, there are, surprisingly, few studies on the socio-economic and demographic aspects and determinants of the rural labor force. In particular, there is a need for studies which interrelate the sources of labor supply and the patterns of employment with the demographic and non-demographic behavior of the family. To fill this need, an interdisciplinary integrated theoretical framework is used to address, at a micro household level, these problems in the context of the Gezira scheme of the Sudan.

Rural labor is drawn from landed, landless and seasonal migrant families. A number of demographic and non-demographic factors influence the labor supply. One important factor is the demographic composition of the "family", broadly defined. Equally important are the non-demographic factors. These include multidimensional structure of employment, education and a complex of socio-cultural and institutional factors.

The empirical chapters are structured by the integrated theoretical framework so as to illuminate the issues involved. The most interesting findings are that the size, composition and life cycle of a household are related to its land and labor resources, and that families in the scheme allocate their labor resources between various agricultural and nonagricultural activities so as to maintain their standard of living. Furthermore, in the Gezira scheme a considerable proportion of women are in the labor force. Logistic regression models show that their participation is affected by the pattern of land distribution, ethnicity, the relative economic status of the family and the presence of children of childcaring age.

Rigid institutional arrangements prohibit the subdivision of farms below a minimum of two units. This reduces the absorptive capacity of the scheme and it may produce reluctance on the part of sons of a tenant farmer to participate in agricultural production. The most plausible alternatives available for them are out migration and education.

Summarizing, the scheme is related in various ways to the rural areas in the Sudan. It uses laborers from its own villages and it facilitates both seasonal and out migration. Thus, it is an important institution in the provision of employment opportunities, labor absorption and the survival of many families in rural areas. Policies and research should be directed toward promoting these important issues.

Indexing (details)


Subject
Demographics;
Demography
Classification
0938: Demography
Identifier / keyword
Social sciences
Title
AN INTEGRATED ECONOMIC-DEMOGRAPHIC THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE ANALYSIS OF THE FACTORS RELATED TO THE RURAL LABOR FORCE IN THE GEZIRA SCHEME: A MICRO HOUSEHOLD LEVEL ANALYSIS (SUDAN)
Author
YOUSIF, HASSAN MUSA
Number of pages
303
Degree date
1985
School code
0175
Source
DAI-A 46/08, Dissertation Abstracts International
Place of publication
Ann Arbor
Country of publication
United States
ISBN
979-8-205-02777-9
University/institution
University of Pennsylvania
University location
United States -- Pennsylvania
Degree
Ph.D.
Source type
Dissertation or Thesis
Language
English
Document type
Dissertation/Thesis
Dissertation/thesis number
8523469
ProQuest document ID
303385837
Copyright
Database copyright ProQuest LLC; ProQuest does not claim copyright in the individual underlying works.
Document URL
https://www.proquest.com/docview/303385837