Labour Markets in Low-Income Countries

Abstract

Chapter 1 serves as the introduction into the topic of the book, presenting the demographic background of low-income countries’ (LICs) struggle for better labour market performance and the focus of the joint Growth and Labour Markets in Low-Income Countries (GLM|LIC) programme of the UK Government and the IZA – Institute of Labor Economics. Despite the importance of studying labour markets in LICs and investigating which policies are more successful, the evidence remained, until recently, rather limited. Against this backdrop, the joint IZA/FCDO (German IZA – Institute of Labor Economics and the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office) and the GLM|LIC programme was established in 2011 after identifying an important research gap on labour markets and growth in LICs. The GLM|LIC programme has taken important steps to close this gap. The chapter provides a brief overview of the subsequent chapters of the volume.

Impact assessment of Striga resistant maize varieties and fertilizer use in Ghana: A panel analysis

“…In sub-Saharan Africa, about 59% of the workforce live in rural areas and are engaged primarily in agriculture. The sector contributes significantly to the export earnings of the continent and is responsible for about a third of the GDP (Bjornlund et al, 2020;Lam et al, 2019). The importance of the agricultural sector to the economies of African countries does not mean that agriculture is the most productive sector of the economy (Bjornlund et al, 2020;Lam et al, 2019).…”

“…The sector contributes significantly to the export earnings of the continent and is responsible for about a third of the GDP (Bjornlund et al, 2020;Lam et al, 2019). The importance of the agricultural sector to the economies of African countries does not mean that agriculture is the most productive sector of the economy (Bjornlund et al, 2020;Lam et al, 2019). Apart from socioeconomic constraints such as poor access to credit, low mechanization, and poor access to extension services, agricultural productivity across the continent is inhibited by biotic and abiotic factors such as poor or declining soil fertility, drought, Striga weed infestation, use of low-yielding varieties, and pests and diseases (Lobulu et al, 2019).…”

Address risk factors as part of clinical practice to prevent stroke

“…The working age (16-64 years) population in sub-Saharan Africa is estimated to increase by 700 million between 2020 and 2050. [5] In LMIC countries the population is predominantly young and, as such, stroke in young adults will have considerable socioeconomic impact because of healthcare costs and loss of labour productivity. [6] The papers on stroke published here present a clear insight into the management of stroke from acute onset in a dedicated stroke unit to rehabilitation.…”

Young Adults and Labor Markets in Africa

“…By 2050, it will be one in three, as illustrated in Figure 1. The large share of young Africans seeking employment is the outcome of different share of young Africans seeking employment is the outcome of different fertility trends across the world: fertility has been falling everywhere, but much more fertility trends across the world: fertility has been falling everywhere, but much more slowly in Africa (Lam et al 2019). It is no exaggeration to say that the economic and slowly in Africa (Lam et al 2019).…”

“…The large share of young Africans seeking employment is the outcome of different share of young Africans seeking employment is the outcome of different fertility trends across the world: fertility has been falling everywhere, but much more fertility trends across the world: fertility has been falling everywhere, but much more slowly in Africa (Lam et al 2019). It is no exaggeration to say that the economic and slowly in Africa (Lam et al 2019). It is no exaggeration to say that the economic and political future of the continent, as well as the outcome of the fight against global political future of the continent, as well as the outcome of the fight against global poverty, depend on the job opportunities available to the children born in Africa poverty, depend on the job opportunities available to the children born in Africa today.…”