Structural Transformation and Rural Change Revisited

“ The value of this book is in reminding us of the importance of structural change and the role played by agriculture, as well as alerting us to the risks we face if we deny the realities of demographics, of the marginalization of small producers, and of the lack of inclusiveness of public policies. For Africa, the immediate future will be stable only if we fight against the political expropriation of the rural majority and if we can take economic advantage of the current strength of its population: its youth. Structural Transformation and Rural Change Revisited helps us to think about these issues and therefore to act intelligently.” — Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, CEO, The New Partnership for Africa’s Development

Losch • Fréguin-Gresh • White

ISBN 978-0-8213-9512-7

A frica D e ve l o p m e n t F o ru m

Structural Transformation and Rural Change Revisited

Many late developing countries face tremendous challenges: They have to deal simultaneously with their economic and demographic transitions in the context of globalization and under the constraints of climate change. Based on new evidence from an in-depth survey that included 8,000 rural households in 7 developing countries, Structural Transformation and Rural Change Revisited addresses the unique situation of regions that remain deeply engaged in agriculture. It explores the reality of their integration into global markets and the nature of the rural nonfarm economy. It then shows the paths through which agricultural economies diversify, and finally proposes a set of policy orientations that could facilitate the process of rural change. These include a clear need to engage in targeted development strategies at the regional level, to focus on staples and family agriculture, and to pursue a policy of “territorial development” that promotes strong ruralurban linkages at the level of rural localities, towns, and districts.

Structural Transformation and Rural Change Revisited Challenges for Late Developing Countries in a Globalizing World Bruno Losch, Sandrine Fréguin-Gresh, Eric Thomas White

SKU 19512

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Structural Transformation and Rural Change Revisited

Published on Jun 28, 2012

World Bank Publications

This book makes a compelling case for reintegrating structural issues into agricultural and rural development policies, which have for the last 30 years over-focused on short-term issues. It shows how the liberalization of agriculture in many late developing countries has not in fact led to the development of the vibrant rural non-farm economy so often discussed in the literature. Neither has it led to a large-scale integration of agricultural producers into the global economy. Most producers remain engaged in traditional crops—mainly staples—and in traditional marketing systems characterized by limited contractualization. Yet in spite of these observations the book draws optimistic conclusions: there are a clear set of policy priorities that, if adapted to individual country contexts, can facilitate an enduring and productive rural transformation.