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A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE EFFICACY OF
THE TRADITIONAL APPROACH AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX IN MEASURING DEVELOPMENT
By Wole Morenikeji, Urban and Regional Planning Department, Federal University of Technology, Minna
ABSTRACT
This paper attempts a comparative analysis of the traditional approach and human development index (HDI) in measuring levels of development with a view to establishing the adequacy of the HDI. Data from the 1991 Nigerian Census Report published by the National Population Commission and the Year 2000 edition of the National Household Survey by the Federal Office of Statistics were used. The then existing 30 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory were the subjects of study. For the traditional approach, 26 selected development indicators were used while for the HDI, life expectancy, educational attainment and percentage of actively employed population were used. The multivariate or traditional approach using 26 development indicators identified education related variables as the most important factor that distinguish the developed from the less developed states. Likewise the HDI approach using five variables yielded the same results. Furthermore, the 31 geographical units were classified based on their performance on the various variables and in both analyses, the 14 southern states were identified as the most developed, the 9 middle belt or central states as the moderately developed and the 8 core northern states as the least developed. The study has demonstrated that with fewer variables as used in the HDI, the same results can be achieved as that using several variables which usually contain redundant variables.
URBAN/RURAL DIFFERENCES IN THE PATTERN OF HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION EXPENDITURE IN NIGERIA
By Charles C.O. Iwunor, Department of Statistics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
The level of household consumption expenditure on basic needs provides a good measure of living standards and consequently poverty. This paper attempts an analysis of urban/rural differences in the pattern of consumption expenditure based on data collected from the 1993/94 family budget survey. The levels of total consumption expenditure as well as expenditure on selected items are examined using means and quartiles. Engel elasticties and concentration ratios are estimated by assuming lognormal Engel curve and constant elasticity. It was found that consumption expenditure was highest among urban households, followed by semi-urban households and lowest among rural households. Semi-urban consumers tend to spend more on non-food items compared to rural consumers.
Expenditure on starchy food, meat/fish, all food items, accommodation/fuel/light were elastic in the urban areas; those on meat/fish, all food items and accommodation/fuel/light were elastic in the rural areas and in the semi-urban areas, only the expenditure on meat/fish was elastic. Total expenditure as well as expenditure on specific items was generally homogeneous among consumers in each of the areas.
DETERMINANTS OF TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION DECISIONS AMONG FARMERS IN THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, ABUJA
By Ernest A. Aiyedun, Department of Economics, University of Abuja
ABSTRACT
This paper identifies and quantifies some factors influencing technology adoption decisions among farmers in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The study also provides some quantitative information on the probability of a farmer adopting innovations given certain socio-economic attributes. Eight variables were identified, using the probit model to be significant in influencing farmers’ adoption decisions. These variables are farmers participating as contact farmers in the Agricultural Development Project (ADP), income of the head of household, age of the farmer, distance of farm to input source, credit availability, extent of commercialization, cooperative membership and farm size. Based on the results obtained, therefore, the variations in perceived uncertainty are also very important. Expected profitability explained in part the variation in adoption along with other information variables (being a contact farmer and distance of farm to source of input). Expected profitability of the farm enterprise was the most important factor in explaining variation in adoption in the study area.
RICE IMPORT MODEL FOR NIGERIA: A CASE FOR SELF-SUFFICIENCY
By Ademola A. Azeez*, and Abiodun O. Falusi**, *Department of Agric. Economics & Extension
University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, **Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
ABSTRACT
Food import which is an indicator of food situation in Nigeria was 6 per cent of total import in 1990,and by 1997 it had reached 20.51 per cent. This paper utilizes error-correction model to estimate import demand for rice in Nigeria over the period, 1970 -1998.The import model presented incorporates both the traditional variables, and indicators of import capacity – forex inflow and national reserves.The result shows that 237,637.5 tonnes of rice was imported during the pre-SAP period while 133,865.7 tonnes was imported in the post-SAP period.The average value of rice import for the two periods stood at N=86.4 million and N=2.6 billion, respectively. The increase in value was attributed to increase in general price level and devaluation. The paper recommends that policies aimed at boosting local rice production should be introduced.These include promotion of private sector participation in input market and investment in research activities. Also, restrictive forex allocation to the rice import subsector is advocated to check importation of rice.
THE PRODUCTIVITY IMPACT OF REAL WAGE AND SOCIAL WELLBEING IN A DEPRESSED ECONOMY: THE NIGERIAN EXPERIENCE
By Ndem Ayara Ndiyo, Department of Economics, University of Calabar, Calabar and Emmanuel O. Okon, Department of Economics, University of Uyo, Uyo
ABSTRACT
This paper analyses the link between real wage, social wellbeing, capacity utilization and labour productivity using Nigerian data from 1970-2000. Econometric estimations show a negative but inconclusive relationship between real wage and labour productivity. The study also reveals a negative influence of inflation and unemployment rates (discomfort index) on productivity while a positive link was established for capacity utilization.This result is robust to corrections for the sample bias and methodological misspecification. In conjunction with the fact that real wage fails to account for a significant share of productivity in Nigeria, the result suggests that further research is required in this area.
AN EVALUATION OF A PETROL PRICE INCREASE IN NIGERIA AGAINST ENERGY CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES
By Douglas O. A. Osula, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Benin, Benin City,
E:mail drsuleng@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
The paper presents an evaluation of the October 1994 petrol price increase in Nigeria against energy conservation objective. The evaluation was based on the petrol price elasticity of trip rate for car-available trip makers, as well as on mode choice characteristics of all respondents, before and after the petrol price increase. The results show that petrol price elasticity of demand for private car travel, though negative as expected, is well below responsiveness level, ranging from -0.081 for the highest income group to -0.389 for the middle-income group, and averaging at -0.245. For the mode choice characteristics, while as expected transfers were made from more expensive modes to cheaper modes, the 22.6 per cent mode transfer from private car to other modes does not seem high enough to match the level of price increase. These low values of the petrol price elasticity of private car trips and the low level of mode transfer from private car to other modes suggest that had the objective been to reduce private car travel in relation to public transport travel, and hence conserve petroleum energy through reduced petrol usage, the exercise would have passed for a mere academic one. Implications are drawn for policy so that future formulation and implementation of energy policies would meet desirable objectives.
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