The contribution of town functions to the development of rural areas: empirical analyses for Ethiopia

T. Tadesse Woeldesenbet

Research output: Thesisinternal PhD, WU

Abstract

Rural areas in many developing countries often lack infrastructure and institutions. However, rural towns and towns possess some of the major services that rural and town households can use to advance their economic activities. The study of the contribution that towns and their functions make to different economic activities is still in development. The thesis sought to add to the literature by conceptually discussing the role of town functions and empirically examining the influence on income, employment opportunities, rural household crop marketing and fertilizer application. For these purposes, data from households in four major regional states of Ethiopia are used. Results show that shorter distances to roads, transport services and telephone centers, and connection to electricity and tap water are likely to increase income and non-farm wage employment. We find also that proximity to roads and markets and strong network connections are associated with improved input-output exchange among rural households
Original languageEnglish
QualificationDoctor of Philosophy
Awarding Institution
  • Wageningen University
Supervisors/Advisors
  • Oskam, Arie, Promotor
Award date11 Apr 2012
Place of PublicationS.l.
Print ISBNs9789461731883
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 11 Apr 2012

Keywords

  • rural urban relations
  • towns
  • utility functions
  • influences
  • household income
  • income
  • employment
  • households
  • agricultural households
  • crops
  • fertilizer application
  • agricultural trade
  • public services
  • road transport
  • telephones
  • electricity
  • drinking water
  • development
  • economic development
  • rural development
  • rural areas
  • ethiopia

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