Aggregate Effects from Public Works: Evidence from India

This paper explores the aggregate economic effects from India's National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), which provides up to 100 days of labor to rural laborers at the mandated minimum wage. We examine the within-district change to night-time lights and banking deposits using the staggered program rollout for identification. We find consistent and robust evidence that NREGS increased aggregate economic output by 1-2% per capita measured by night-time lights. This effect, however, is not equal across districts. We observe no positive effect of the program in poorer districts, illuminating an important source of heterogeneity.

Labor safety and control of the working area state in the penals while mining steep coal seams by shield aggregates

In this article, circumstances and factors which can lead to a degraded labour protection and occurrence of emergency in a district are reviewed and analyzed on the example of an accident occurred at sudden coal-and-gas outburst in the panel face № 42-1146 m of the Tovstyi-Zakhid seam m3 in the Central Mine of the Toretsvukhillia Mining Company. In this article, state of equipment and its location in the district in accordance with the requirements of the safety rules, records of devices which monitor gas-dynamic state of the coal seam and operation of the shield aggregate are considered. Mining and geological conditions of the seam bedding and technological conditions of the district location within the working horizon; methane content in the air of the roadways in the district; change of coal physical and mechanical properties in the area of possible geological disturbance; results of control of the coal seam gas-dynamic state analyzed by acoustic emission parameters; and other risk factors that led to emergencies were studied. The decisions made for controlling possible area with geological disturbance impact which was detected in the horizons of 916 m and 1026 m on the basis of mining-graphic materials and data of geological study in the mining roadways adjacent to the panel No. 14 in the district 42-1146 m were analyzed. The order and sequence of the works established for eliminating consequences of the coal and gas sudden outburst and detecting zone with disturbed coal and outburst cavity were considered. On the basis of the results obtained, conclusions were made and actions were elaborated on preventing accidents at mining steep prone-to-outburst coal seams by the shield aggregates. It is recommended to continue the scientific research for the purpose of detecting zone with possible impact of discontinuous geological disturbance and plicate disturbed zones in the coal seams by the changed hardness of coal in the adjacent panel, and developing certain local measures on preventing gas-dynamic phenomena at mining steep prone-to-outburst seams by the shield aggregates. The objective of this work was to analyze state of the working area and labor protection and to study the conditions and factors which had led to the accident with serious consequences and emergency condition of the panel.

Mapping of Resources and Potential Development for Food-Secure Region in East Seram, Maluku Province, Indonesia

In this study, we developed agro sector mapping of current condition, problems, threats, potentials, and strategic policies in rural area in East Seram, Maluku Province especially in Bula District. The aims of the agro mapping was to make food security planning in East Seram. The mapping process was conducted through literature study, observations, and data collecting through focus group discussion. The data were analyzed with descriptive analysis. We also collected the data based on 9 indicators of food security before and after 5 years of intervention in livestock program and capacity building. The data were calculated for their indicators and composite values, then analyzed to define food security improvement. Based on the data, livestock were still raised traditionally on pastures. To enhance food-security, the resilience should be built through: (1) the improvement of land productivity, including infrastructure, facilities for intensive livestock systems, and optimization of dry land’s potential; (2) water management; and (3) capacity building for communities. After the intervention, the food security level of Bula District change from priority 2 (severely vulnerable) to priority 4 (moderately vulnerable). It means building human centered community based and local resources management become important in food security strategic in rural area especially in East Seram, Maluku, Indonesia.

Using Geographic Information Systems to Measure District Change, 2000–2002

In this article, I use geographic information systems to develop a continuous measure of district continuity and change following the 2000–02 congressional redistricting cycle. The new measure provides details of where the new population in a district came from and how the old population was distributed within new districts. This measure is then used to demonstrate the independent and interactive influence of district change on competition for congressional elections.