scholarly journals Social Networks as Levers of Mobility

2021 ◽  
pp. 424-448
Author(s):  
Anandi Mani ◽  
Emma Riley

This chapter reviews the literature on pathways through which social networks may influence social mobility in developing countries. We find that social networks support members in tangible ways—via access to opportunities for migration, credit, trading relationships, information on jobs, and new technologies—as well as in intangible ways, such as shaping their beliefs, hopes, and aspirations, through role models and peers. Nevertheless, networks can disadvantage non-members, typically the poor and marginalized. Recent evidence suggests a range of policy tools that could help mitigate disadvantages faced by excluded groups: temporary incentives to encourage experimentation into new regions, occupations, or technologies, and role models—real and virtual—to mitigate psychosocial challenges faced by marginalized groups. Targeting large fractions of marginalized groups simultaneously could increase the effectiveness of such policies by leveraging the influence of existing social networks.

2021 ◽  
pp. 451-460
Author(s):  
Vegard Iversen ◽  
Anirudh Krishna ◽  
Kunal Sen

The book distils our multidisciplinary investigation into social mobility, with this concluding chapter weaving together the research strands into coherent policy suggestions. Three sets of motivations guided our research work: identifying knowledge gaps; innovations and improvements in research practice; using the findings to craft social mobility policy advice, particularly in developing country settings. The concluding chapter synthesizes some of the key learnings in relation to these three guiding motivations. Investing in social mobility through policy investments ought to be a very important part of any future development agenda. A belief has prevailed that a country’s GNP must grow first before the problems of the poor can be addressed. We suggest that this logic be turned on its head via countries investing in social mobility for their entire populations, not just those with access to education, healthcare, etc. Growth and social justice can be promoted by well-designed policy tools.


2021 ◽  
pp. 135406612110014
Author(s):  
Glen Biglaiser ◽  
Ronald J. McGauvran

Developing countries, saddled with debts, often prefer investors absorb losses through debt restructurings. By not making full repayments, debtor governments could increase social spending, serving poorer constituents, and, in turn, lowering income inequality. Alternatively, debtor governments could reduce taxes and cut government spending, bolstering the assets of the rich at the expense of the poor. Using panel data for 71 developing countries from 1986 to 2016, we assess the effects of debt restructurings on societal income distribution. Specifically, we study the impact of debt restructurings on social spending, tax reform, and income inequality. We find that countries receiving debt restructurings tend to use their newly acquired economic flexibility to reduce taxes and lower social spending, worsening income inequality. The results are also robust to different model specifications. Our study contributes to the globalization and the poor debate, suggesting the economic harm caused to the less well-off following debt restructurings.


2013 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. SART.S8108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristin V. Carson ◽  
Malcolm P. Brinn ◽  
Thomas A. Robertson ◽  
Rachada To-A-Nan ◽  
Adrian J. Esterman ◽  
...  

Tobacco smoking remains the single most preventable cause of morbidity and mortality in developed countries and poses a significant threat across developing countries where tobacco use prevalence is increasing. Nicotine dependence is a chronic disease often requiring multiple attempts to quit; repeated interventions with pharmacotherapeutic aids have become more popular as part of cessation therapies. First-line medications of known efficacy in the general population include varenicline tartrate, bupropion hydrochloride, nicotine replacement therapy products, or a combination thereof. However, less is known about the use of these products in marginalized groups such as the indigenous, those with mental illnesses, youth, and pregnant or breastfeeding women. Despite the efficacy and safety of these first line pharmacotherapies, many smokers continue to relapse and alternative pharmacotherapies and cessation options are required. Thus, the aim of this review is to summarize the existing and developing pharmacotherapeutic and other options for smoking cessation, to identify gaps in current clinical practice, and to provide recommendations for future evaluations and research.


2016 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy Hunter ◽  
Robert Brill

A birth certificate is essential to exercising citizenship, yet vast numbers of poor people in developing countries have no official record of their existence. Few academic studies analyze the conditions under which governments come to document and certify births routinely, and those that do leave much to be explained, including why nontotalitarian governments at low to middle levels of economic development come to prioritize birth registration. This article draws attention to the impetus that welfare-building initiatives give to identity documentation. The empirical focus is on contemporary Latin America, where extensions in institutionalized social protection since the 1990s have increased the demand for and supply of birth registration, raising the life chances of the poor and building state infrastructure in the process. The authors' argument promises to have broader applicability as welfare states form in other developing regions.


2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jae-Eun Noh

As a response to increasing influences of transnational corporations (TNCs) over the lives of the poor, development NGOs have tried to promote their responsibility in cooperative ways: partnership in development projects and voluntary regulations. Notwithstanding some degree of success, these cooperative ways have failed to bring fundamental changes to TNCs. This article outlines the limitations of the mainstream corporate social responsibility (CSR) and the potential of grassroots social movements to make TNCs accountable. People in developing countries have been neglected in the CSR agenda; however, they have power to change corporations as labourers, consumers and citizens. Drawing on case studies, this article suggests that NGOs should support grassroots people in building global networks, constructing collective values and creating the information flow in order to overcome the current shortcomings of community-driven social movements. For these new roles as advocates and facilitators for grassroots movements, NGOs need to transform themselves by pursuing core values.  


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 137
Author(s):  
Olli Salmensuu

This paper studies potato prices and consumption in the progress of economic development. Potato status tends to evolve from a luxury to a normal and, lastly, to an inferior good. In the developed world, where the potato thrived and became a food for the poor, prices of the inferior potato attract little interest due to general welfare, which further complicates discerning economic effects by computation. Contrarily, in many developing countries, due to supply constraints the potato is a relative expensive, non-staple, normal good, with little social significance. Whereas it is a common misconception that tastes in developing countries differ from advanced economies, low incomes, together with relatively high potato prices, present a real and obvious hindrance to wider potato use among the poor in the underdeveloped world. Local regressions on FAO data reveal empirical advantages favoring potato price system research in developing countries, more likely yielding predictable, statistically significant, unbiased results. Correct policies could increase potato importance in developing countries and stimulate sustainable and pro-poor growth where consumers receive affordable potatoes, while also producer incentives for greater productivity improve. Furthermore, potato-led research presents widening potential into also understanding general social structures of underdevelopment as similar factors explain both cross-border incomes and potato prices.


1988 ◽  

This study was prepared pursuant to resolution 174(VI), adopted by the General Assembly at its sixth session (Sofia, September 1985), concerning the Organization's General Programme of Work for the period 1986-1987, prepared by the Secretary-General. It was entered as an activity under the heading "Standard-setting activities". The identification of recent trends in the transfer of new technologies in the field of tourism; the investigation of various effects of new technologies for tourist receiving developing countries; the discussion of alternative strategies with respect to the acquisition and assimilation of new technologies in the field of tourism; the recommendation of specific policies, actions and measures to be taken by the developing countries in order to maximize gains and minimize adverse effects arising from the transfer of new technologies; the formulation of basic guidelines for technology transfer as applied to the main operations in the tourism sector and the suggestion of directions and forms of regional and interregional cooperation (including WTO activities ) supplementing national efforts, are the main objectives of the study.


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