Gertrud Buchenrieder Livres

The book delves into the critical role of institutions in economic transformation, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. It examines how the success of reforms in these transition economies relies heavily on the establishment of effective institutions, specifically within financial systems. The analysis focuses on the sequencing and timing of structural and institutional reforms, supported by macroeconomic evidence from six countries: Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and the Slovak Republic.

Evidence from low-income countries over the past decade indicates that rural household income from non-farm sources is increasing, contributing 40-50% to average rural income, primarily from local sources. This trend highlights the growing importance of non-farm rural employment in discussions on rural development, particularly for reducing poverty and enhancing sustainable livelihoods. Farm households employ various strategies to manage risks and minimize livelihood vulnerability, which can be categorized into two main approaches: diversifying farm production and engaging in non-farm activities (both on- and off-farm), including wage and self-employment, often involving migration. Diversity and sustainability are crucial for rural households to survive challenging ecological and economic conditions. Common patterns emerge: limited access to farmland makes low-paid non-farm jobs vital for survival, while better land access encourages diversification of farm activities, often supplemented by non-farm employment. A critical farm size is necessary to enable participation in higher-paying non-farm jobs, complicating the notion of non-farm employment as a universal solution to rural poverty. The significance of social capital in facilitating profitable non-farm employment opportunities is also emphasized. This edited volume comprises papers presented at the Deutsche Tropentag 2001 and the 42nd Annual Conference of GEWISOLA, focus

This volume has two general objectives. First, to identify and quantify the impact of rural financial markets on poor rural households' income and food security. Second, it attempts to give empirically controlled insight into the characteristics and requirements of innovative financial institutions and services that are particularly geared towards the rural poor's demands. Cameroon was chosen for this detailed micro-economic study because food insecurity and malnutrition are widespread in several regions and innovative rural financial institutions and programs can be studied in Cameroon. The results are that availability of savings facilities and access to credit increases income and calorie consumption. The positive income and food consumption effect is shown to be due to increased agricultural output and productivity. Also, complementary services and particularly education play a decisive role in fostering food security.

The success of reform efforts in transition economies heavily relies on the presence of adequate institutions. The timing and sequencing of agrarian, economic, and financial institutions are crucial for both political and economic stability. Effective institutions incentivize investment, thereby stimulating growth. However, the effectiveness of reform efforts in these countries has often been disappointing, primarily due to the lack of suitable institutions. This edited volume stems from the mini-symposium “Rural Institution Sequencing and Timing in Transition Economies” held during the international conference on “Managing Tomorrow’s Agriculture” in Berlin, August 2000, organized by the International Association of Agricultural Economists (IAAE). The contributions assess whether certain components of the reform process should be implemented at specific stages of rural economic transformation, highlighting institution sequencing and timing across various rural economic sectors. The book is divided into three parts: institution sequencing and timing in the rural economy, the agricultural sector, and the rural finance sector. It addresses institutional challenges in reforming the rural economy through case studies from Central and Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, and China.