Expert

Dr. Dil Bahadur Rahut

Description of the previous tasks at ZEF Previous Position at ZEF: Junior Researcher Previous ZEF department: ZEF b Previous research areas at ZEF: - Growth, Inequality and Poverty Previous research countries at ZEF: - India Donor of doctoral study: BMZ via DAAD & GTZ

Rural Non-Farm Employment in Lower Himalayan Region of North Eastern India Non-farm activities generate on average more than 60 percent of rural households’ incomes in the eastern Himalayan region of India. This study analyzes the determinants of participation in non-farm activities and of non-farm incomes across rural households. The focus of the research is on the significance of the assets endowments rather than household behaviour towards risk as determinants of non-farm activity choice. A unique data set collected in the eastern Himalayas allowed us to closely examine the implication of the asset endowment on non-farm employment. We conduct an empirical inquiry that reveals that education plays a major role in accessing better remunerated non-farm employment. Other household assets and characteristics such as land, migration assets, social status, and geographical location also play a role. Land and assets poor household are more likely to diversify into low return non-farm activities. Studies also show that the farm household does not reinvest its earning from other sources into non-farm activities. Access to market was also critical determinants particularly to high return non-farm activities. The supply (or availability) of non-farm opportunities also influences the choice of non-farm activities It also analyses the different livelihood diversification strategies of rural households using household level data from the Eastern Himalayan region of India. Empirical evidence suggests that the rural households indeed engage in different and multiple activities and rely on diversified income portfolios. The point of departure from previous studies is that this study uses several alternative classifications of income portfolios of households, which previous studies, at least in my knowledge, did not use. By disaggregating the different sources of non-farm activities to a significant extent, the research is able to shed additional light on the underlying factors of diversification strategies adopted by rural households therefore this study emphasizes significance of factors other than household’s behavior towards risk. The findings point especially to lack of education as a factor that pushes households to select low-return strategies, while better educated households are able to enjoy higher-return strategies. Other factors, such as land and housing type, also play an important role. This paper uses the Gini decomposition method designed by Shorrocks (1982) and Lerman and Yitzhaki (1994) and estimates the effects of different income source on total income distribution. Result indicates that the low return non-farm income has equalizing effects while the high return non-farm income has increases the inequality. Using empirical analysis this research also point out that the non-farm activities particularly the high return non-farm activities increases the welfare of the households. Cuvillier Verlag, Göttingen, 2006. ISBN 3867270317

Micevska. M. and Rahut D. B.. 2008. Rural Non-Farm Employment and Income in Eastern Himalayas, Economic Development and Cultural Change. 57: 163–193.
Further Information: www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/590460

Rahut. D.B.. 2008. Rural Non-Farm Sector: Employment and Investment Opportunities ,. In: Edited by Mukherejee. A and Mittal. S (eds.): Food and Agriculture. Cambridge Press, India,

Rahut D. B., Hap Navy. 2007. Poverty Impact Assessment in TSSLP Communes, Cambodia; Technical Report. Asian Development Bank TA 4197 CAM..

Rahut D. B., Hap Navy and B D Ratner. 2007. Enabling Alternative Livelihoods for Aquatic Resource Dependent Communities of the Tonle Sap, Summary Research Note, Asian Development Bank TA 4669-CAM.

Rahut. D.B.. 2007. Dutch Disease and Possible Alternatives Available. Economic and Political Weekly (EPW), 42: 22.

Rahut. D.B.. 2006. Determinants of poverty in Nepal: a study of disadvantaged people.. In: Anil Bhuimali (eds.): Globalisation and Human Rights. Serials Publication, 172 p.

Rahut D. B. 2006. Rural Non-farm Employment in the Lower Himalayas of Eastern India- A Micro-econometric Analysis.
Further Information: books.google.com/books?id=wZJgg3iYOG8C&dq=Dil++Bahadur+Rahut,+Rural+Non+Farm+Employment&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=JwttWvfxFa&sig=jhzaA9UvPZHAysj2w477OGHWJ_k&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result

Curriculum Vitae Dil Bahadur Rahut2.pdf
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