Rural Development

Socioeconomic Position, Rural Residence, and Marginality Influences on Obesity Status in the Adult Mexican Population

by Corey Sparks

This paper assesses individual and social environment determinants of obesity in the adult Mexican population based on... more This paper assesses individual and social environment determinants of obesity in the adult Mexican population based on socioeconomic position, rural residence, and areal deprivation. Using a nationally representative health and nutrition survey, this analysis considers individual and structural determinants of obesity from a socioeconomic position and health disparities conceptual framework using multilevel logistic regression models. We find that more than thirty percent of Mexican adults were obese in 2006 and that the odds of being obese were strongly associated with an individual's socioeconomic position, gender, place of residence, and the level of marginalization (areal deprivation) in the place of residence. Surprisingly, areas of the country where areal deprivation was highest had lower risks of individual obesity outcomes. We suggest that programs oriented towards addressing the health benefits of traditional food systems over high-energy dense refined foods and sugary beverages be promoted as part of a public health program aimed at curbing the rising obesity prevalence in Mexico.

Aboriginal Pastoralism, Social Embeddedness and Cultural Continuity in Central Australia

by Nicholas Gill

2005, Society and Natural Resources, 18, 1-16.

Aboriginal people are involved in pastoral enterprises throughout the inland and north of Australia. This has... more Aboriginal people are involved in pastoral enterprises throughout the inland and north of Australia. This has generated difficulties as landowners and policymakers struggled with conflicts between Aboriginal social structures and the demands of running commercial businesses. Problems often arose due to imposition of nonindigenous norms regarding land use. It has been suggested that pastoralism can generate social and cultural benefits for Aboriginal landowners, but these have not been investigated in any detail. Drawing on the concept of social embeddedness and fieldwork with Aboriginal pastoralists, this article identifies, describes, and ranks sociocultural benefits arising from Aboriginal pastoralism. Pastoralism fulfilled uniquely Aboriginal aims and was most important for its role in Aboriginal social and cultural and reproduction. In the Aboriginal context, pastoralism should be conceived in terms that include these Aboriginal motivations and that recognize the social embeddedness of pastoralism.

Expanding People’s Might: Putting Social Infrastructure into the Hands of the Community, Investigation into a Village Community

by Arun Kumar

Published in 'International Journal of Rural Management'. 2008

There is increasing evidence of the social infrastructure failing the rural poor. In view of the failure of the... more There is increasing evidence of the social infrastructure failing the rural poor. In view of the failure of the responsible agency to deliver on various fronts; it is essential to examine possible solutions to bridge the gaps in the provision of social infrastructure and services. Possible solutions like technological innovation and social mobilization through communitarian responses present challenges in replication and extension. Greater centralization or decentralization to address service delivery failure is limited, in that, it is known to lead to entrenchment of power—either at the global or local levels. These limitations enforce the quest for alternatives. This article presents one such alternative—of expanding people's control, by transferring infrastructure directly into the hands of the people, through community organizations. It also explores the necessary amendments and regulations that need be made before such transference takes place; and the necessary caveats.

SATMED: Legal Aspects of the Physical Layer of Satellite-Telemedicine

by Stephen Rooke

Significant disparities exist between the availability of physicians and health care specialists in urban and rural... more Significant disparities exist between the availability of physicians and health care specialists in urban and rural areas, particularly in developing countries. For example, the concentration of medical specialists in Nairobi, Kenya, is 147 times higher than in Kilifi, a relatively large, but rural region. Emerging telemedicine technologies would enable doctors located in urban areas and elsewhere around the globe to serve rural patients. However, the limited availability of telecommunications infrastructure and technology necessary for telemedicine in rural areas inhibits the deployment of such health care applications. For example, in Namtumbo, Tanzania, a region with over 190,000 people, there are no doctors and none of the medical facilities have access to any type of telephone connection. Only twenty percent of Tanzania's health districts are connected by landline telephone.

Satellites' ability to bridge gaps in telecommunications infrastructure gives them a unique capacity to also bridge the urbal-rural health care divide by making telemedicine applications available to rural patients and medical professionals worldwide. Unfortunately, international law provides an expansive grant of national sovereignty over electromagnetic spectrum that supersedes state obligations to provide access to health care. As a result, the physical equipment necessary to provide telemedicine services to rural patients is subject to national regulatory regimes that prevent the widespread and cost-effective availability of life-saving technology.

This paper identifies the body of international law governing satellite-telemedicine including outer space law; conventions governing economic, social and cultural rights and the right to health care; and international telecommunications law including the ITU Constitution, Tampere Convention, and the Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite Memorandum of Understanding. It then concludes that an additional international undertaking to eliminate national barriers to entry for satellite-telemedicine technology is necessary.

The Environment v. the Economy: Views of State Development Officials

by Mark McBeth

Suggested Citation

Mark K. McBeth. "The Environment v. the Economy: Views of State Development... more Suggested Citation

Mark K. McBeth. "The Environment v. the Economy: Views of State Development Officials" Spectrum: The Journal of State Government 69.1 (1996): 17-25.

The Greening of State Rural Development Officials: A Call for Research

by Mark McBeth

A national sample of 305 rural development administrators was used to define "green" rural development... more A national sample of 305 rural development administrators was used to define "green" rural development officials (GRDOs). GRDOs were found to possess strong environmental attitudes in three areas: (1) rural environmental problems; (2) environmental policy options; and (3) environmental policy considerations.

Suggested Citation

Mark K. McBeth. "The Greening of State Rural Development Officials: A Call for Research." Journal of the Community Development Society 26.2 (1996): 211-226.

Local Elected Officials and the Environment: Does Rural versus Urban Matter Anymore?

by Mark McBeth

Co-authored with Keith Bennett

Abstract
A survey was mailed to elected officials (mayors and city council) from a sample of 52 rural communities... more Abstract
A survey was mailed to elected officials (mayors and city council) from a sample of 52 rural communities in Idaho and all 7 communities with populations above 20,000 to examine whether there is a relationship between environmental policy issues and various independent variables such as economic type, age, gender, rural/ urban, political ideology, and percentage of life lived in the current community. One-hundred and fifty-five (155) out of three hundred twenty seven (327) respondents returned the survey for a response rate of 47%. The findings reveal that while the rural/urban dichotomy consistently predicted for questions on “trust of information sources,” overall economic base was a better predictor of attitudes toward environmental issues and policy
Suggested Citation

Mark K. McBeth and Keith Bennett. "Local Elected Officials and the Environment: Does Rural versus Urban Matter Anymore?" Social Science Journal 35.4 (1998): 577-588.

Rural-Urban Influences in U.S. Economic Development and Environmental Policy

by Mark McBeth

Abstract
Despite the fact that rural communities have the most to gain and lose in matters involving economic... more Abstract
Despite the fact that rural communities have the most to gain and lose in matters involving economic development and environmental preservation, they often are given the least voice in the political processes that create policies in these areas. Agendas are set, policies formulated and implemented by policy-makers, administrators, and practitioners in urban areas. These outside policies may not be consistent with how rural communities view the tradeoffs between the environment and the economy. We call for decentralization of economic and environmental policy. It is understood, however, that such an approach may involve risk. What if rural-based policy-makers and practitioners are, for instance, aggressively anti-environmental and pro-economic growth? Using results from a national sample of rural development officials, this study examines the environmental and economic development attitudes of development officials based on a population continuum. The findings suggest that rural-based development officials often have a greater appreciation of rural environmental quality of life features compared to their urban counterparts. The implications of the findings are detailed and suggestions for future research are provided.

Suggested Citation

Richard H. Foster and Mark K. McBeth. "Rural-Urban Influences in U.S. Economic Development and Environmental Policy" Journal of Rural Studies 12.4 (1996): 387-397.

Rural Environmental and Economic Development Attitudes: An Empirical Analysis

by Mark McBeth

Environmental preservation and economic development are two issues that divide the rural community. Rural areas are... more Environmental preservation and economic development are two issues that divide the rural community. Rural areas are often viewed as expressing anti-environmental and pro-growth attitudes; this study calls into question this latter assumption. The findings suggest that environmental and economic values are equally salient in the rural value structure. The rural development professional must possess accurate knowledge of environmental concerns.

Suggested Citation

Mark K. McBeth. "Rural Environmental and Economic Development Attitudes: An Empirical Analysis." Economic Development Quarterly 9.1 (1995): 39-49.

Mammals of Bau Limestone. 2004

by M.T. Abdullah, PhD

Social Perceptions of Environmental Changes and Local Development within the Usumacinta River Basin

by Jérôme Gandin

APCBEE Procedia, 2012

The transboundary river basin of the Usumacinta is facing a growing number of environmental and socioeconomicmore The transboundary river basin of the Usumacinta is facing a growing number of environmental and socioeconomic
changes in recent years. Regarding the wealth of natural resources it contains, this watershed has a high development
potential. However, the local populations remain among the poorest in Mexico and Guatemala and furthermore their
lives are profoundly weakened by environmental degradation. Being excluded from any development intervention,
the local communities have chosen the path of mobilization to ensure themselves better living conditions and call
attention to the natural and cultural heritage of the Usumacinta river basin. Social perceptions of environmental
change and expectations of local people in terms of local development are examined by using mixed methods. The
results highlight the failure of the traditional approaches of conservation and local development. This article puts
forth a reconsidered concept of sustainable development by taking into account the dimension of culture and makes
an effort of contextualization to address the socio-economic and environmental problems.

Putting the Market in Its Place: Food Security in Three Mapuche Communities in Southern Chile

by Timothy David Clark

Latin American Research Review 46(2): 154-179

This article analyzes the impact of state policies since the 1970s on household food security in several Mapuche... more This article analyzes the impact of state policies since the 1970s on household food security in several Mapuche communities in the Araucanía region of Chile (Region IX). The author highlights key transformations in the national economy and food system and endeavors to link those to local phenomena, in particular the absorption of the local livelihood strategies and food systems into capitalist markets and the high incidences of food insecurity. The article concludes that a reconceptualization of macroeconomic and indigenous policies are required to rebuild the material and social foundations of rural Mapuche communities that provide the bases from which their inhabitants can reconstruct a mutually beneficial relationship with the broader Chilean society and avert the continued acceleration of tension and violence.

Involving local people in local development initiatives

by Suman Chowdhury Mony

People especially youths of a country can play a vital role for development of their country. However, Government of... more People especially youths of a country can play a vital role for development of their country. However, Government of those countries has no sufficient money for do the development work in every sector and every area at a time, than people of those countries can take initiatives for some small types development activities. For that, peoples should be united at first and than take decision what should be done.

Comentarios al informe 2008 del Banco Mundial: "Agricultura para el desarrollo"

by J. Fernando Galindo

Comentarios vertidos en ocasión de la presentación del Informe Anual 2008 del Banco Mundial “Agricultura para el Desarrollo” realizado el 22 de abril 2008 en el Hotel Europa de la ciudad de La Paz, Bolivia.

Comments stated on ocassion of the presentation of World Bank's 2008 Development Report "Agriculture for Development" on April 22, 2008 at Hotel Europa in La Paz, Bolivia.

Este documento de trabajo esboza un comentario general del informe 2008 del Banco Mundial "Agricultura para el... more Este documento de trabajo esboza un comentario general del informe 2008 del Banco Mundial "Agricultura para el desarrollo". Se Inicia con un resumen y valoración general del documento, continua con algunas precisiones respecto a la agricultura latinoamericana, posteriormente se plantean interrogantes sobre la intencionalidad y contenido del mismo, se identifican algunas recurrencias y se finaliza con unas apostillas respecto al informe y el desarrollo rural en Bolivia.

This paper outlines general comments on World Bank's 2008 Development Report "Agriculture for Development". It begins with a summary and a general assessment of the document, then states a few comments with respect to Latin American agriculture, raises some questions about the content and intention of the document, outlines some recurrent topics and ends with a few apostilles about the links of this report and rural development in Bolivia.

Biopesticides: Expanding Reach Abets Rural Prosperity

by Bikramjit Sinha

Potential of Bio-Pesticides in Indian Agriculture Vis-a-Vis Rural Development

by Bikramjit Sinha

Illegal evictions? Overwriting possession and orality with law’s violence in Cambodia

by Simon Springer

Springer, S. Forthcoming. Illegal evictions? Overwriting possession and orality with law’s violence in Cambodia. Journal of Agrarian Change.

The unfolding of a juridico-cadastral system in present-day Cambodia is at odds with local understandings of... more The unfolding of a juridico-cadastral system in present-day Cambodia is at odds with local understandings of landholding, which are entrenched in notions of community consensus and existing occupation. The discrepancy between such orally recognized antecedents and the written word of law have been at the heart of the recent wave of dispossessions that have swept across the country. Contra the standard critique that corruption has set the tone, this paper argues that evictions in Cambodia are often literally underwritten by the articles of law. Whereas ‘possession’ is a well-understood and accepted concept in Cambodia, a cultural basis rooted in what James C. Scott refers to as ‘orality’, coupled with a long history of subsistence agriculture, semi-nomadic lifestyles, barter economies, and–until recently–widespread land availability have all ensured that notions of ‘property’ are vague among the country’s majority rural poor. In drawing a firm distinction between possessions and property, where the former is premised upon actual use and the latter is embedded in exploitation, this article examines how proprietorship is inextricably bound to the violence of law.

The Indigenous Dynamic in Taiwan's Postwar Development: Religious and Historical Roots of Entrepreneurship (Taiwan in the Modern World Series)

by Ian Skoggard

Rural Development Networks: A Mapping Exercise

by Martine Miller

El veto de las élites rurales a la redistribución de la tierra en Colombia

by Mauricio Uribe López

Revista de Economía Institucional, Vol II, No. 21, Segundo Semestre, Universidad Externado de Colombia, Bogotá, 2009