https://hdl.handle.net/10419/61 2026-09-15T09:05:07Z https://hdl.handle.net/10419/318481 Title: Women's off-farm employment and dietary quality in rural Africa Authors: Mutsami, Chrispinus; Parlasca, Martin Christoph; Qaim, Matin Abstract: Most households in rural Africa are involved in smallholder farming, but off-farm employment is an important additional income source for many. Previous research has analyzed links between off-farm employment and wellbeing, but mostly at the household level, not considering that household members may be affected differently. In particular, gender gaps in employment, nutrition, and other wellbeing dimensions are widely observed. Here, we use survey data collected in Tanzania and Zambia to examine how women's off-farm employment influences their individual-level dietary quality. Regression estimates with instrumental variables show that women's off-farm employment improves their dietary diversity, including more frequent consumption of nutritious foods such as meat, fish, fruits, and vegetables. We also explore potential mechanisms, including changes in household income, women's agency, and time allocation. The main results hold across various robustness checks, suggesting that improving women's access to off-farm employment can help increase household income and reduce widespread gender gaps in rural Africa. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10419/312935 Title: On a transformation of the Gini coefficient into a well-behaved social welfare function Authors: Stark, Oded Abstract: Following Sen's (1973) characterization of the Gini coefficient as a ratio between a measure of aggregate income-based stress ("depression" in Sen's terminology) and aggregate income, we transform the Gini coefficient into a social welfare function rather than having the Gini coefficient feature as an input in a social welfare function as in Sen (1973 and 1997), Sen (1976), and Sen (1982). The "Gini social welfare function" assigns weights that reflect preferences to aggregate income and to aggregate income-based stress (income inequality), a desirable property that a social welfare function in which the Gini coefficient features as an input does not have. The transformation bears on the formation of public policy and on the welfare analysis of policy interventions. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10419/312933 Title: An inquiry into labor conditions across key rural sectors in Africa Authors: Nzira, Jackson Elias; Parlasca, Martin C.; Qaim, Matin Abstract: While agriculture remains a key source of livelihoods in rural Africa, employment in other economic sectors is gaining in importance. However, details of the labor conditions are under-researched. Here, we examine labor conditions in different sectors of the rural economy using survey data from wage workers and key employers in Kenya, Namibia, Tanzania, and Zambia. We find that close to 60% of the adult population are self-employed in agriculture or small non-agricultural businesses, whereas only 7% are wage-employed. Over 60% of those in wage employment earn below the minimum wage. The main employers are agricultural farms and small private firms in hospitality and other services sectors. Average working conditions remain poor. Payment above the minimum wage, employment stability, and certain social benefits are more widely observed in sectors such as public administration, education, and healthcare, where longer-term or permanent contracts are common. Workers in agriculture and construction predominantly depend on seasonal and temporary contracts. Although individual education levels, training, and experience enhance payment and job quality, those with higher education often report lower job satisfaction. Our findings underscore the need for policies that broaden wage employment opportunities and improve the labor conditions in rural Africa. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10419/312936 Title: Agrivoltaics increases public acceptance of solar energy production on agricultural land Authors: Zeddies, Hendrik Hilmar; Parlasca, Martin Christoph; Qaim, Matin Abstract: Competition for land is a key challenge for decarbonized energy transitions. Open-space solar energy farms are gaining in importance but have large land requirements and displace agricultural production. Agrivoltaics offers a compromise, integrating solar panels into existing farming operations. However, adoption of Agrivoltaics remains limited, as it has lower energy output per hectare and higher installation costs than open-space solar. Here, we compare public attitudes towards Agrivoltaics and open-space solar in Germany, using experimental data from a nationally representative sample. Participants were shown three images of a landscape that only differed in terms of land use, namely an agricultural field without solar, an Agrivoltaics system, and an open-space solar system, together with some technical information. While both solar systems have perceived negative impacts on landscape attractiveness, the impacts are less negative for Agrivoltaics. In comparison to their regular electricity bill, 44% of the participants expressed their willingness to pay more for electricity from Agrivoltaics, compared to 29% for electricity from open-space solar. We also find a higher monetary willingness to pay for Agrivoltaics. These results hold across different agricultural systems, implying that Agrivoltaics could play an important role for socially-acceptable energy transitions. More widespread Agrivoltaics adoption may depend on targeted policy support. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z