ON INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION AND THE SOCIAL WELFARE FUNCTION

In defining optimum population, economists have used two distinct concepts of the social welfare function: the Millian and the Benthamite. Although analytically the issue of the welfare impact of international migration is closely related to the concept of optimum population, the migration analysis has been based almost exclusively on the Benthamite welfare function. As its point of departure, the present note explores the implications of the alternative Millian welfare function for migration analysis.
An interesting aspect of the results derived from the present exercise is that they are in sharp contradiction with the results based on the Benthamite social welfare function. This highlights the sensitivity of the results to the welfare criteria used and the need for greater caution in policy formulation.     

An analytical defence of basic needs: The optimal-savings perspective

This paper seeks to provide an analytical defence of the basic needs approach to planning by invoking arguments derived from optimal-savings models. It shows that the ‘optimal’ provisions of basic needs, far from reducing growth, can have a salutory effect on it.     

The puzzle of sharecropping: A survey of theories

The geographically pervasive and historically tenacious institution of sharecropping has always been a fruitful source of great economic controversies. While the earlier writings were almost universal in their disapproval of sharecropping (and seemed to ascribe little or no rationale for the persistence of it), an important characteristic of recent writings has been to uphold a plurality of views regarding the virtues of this institution. Not only have the recent papers been quite successful in highlighting the basic rationale behind the continuance of this somewhat enigmatic institution, they have addressed themselves to a number of important issues hitherto unexplored. Many strands of recent theoretical analyses have been brought to bear on the analysis of these problems, ranging from the simple competitive model to the esoteric theory of core, from the tricky Coase theorem of property rights to the intricate theory of portfolio behaviour, the principal-agent formulation and recent advances from the economics of information. Based on the present survey of theories, it seems fair to conclude that these recent sophisticated models have been quite illuminating and hold promise of further insights in future.     

GENDER AND POVERTY: ISSUES AND POLICIES WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO ASIAN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

Abstract. Recent years saw the outpouring of a theoretical and empirical literature, exploring the nexus between gender and poverty in developing countries. This paper, which provides a critical review of the literature, examines the conceptual basis for a gender-focused approach to poverty alleviation; reviews the relevant empirical studies and data, drawn principally, but not exclusively, from Asian developing countries; and explores the role of public policies to redress gender disparity. The present review argues that the conceptual basis for many gender-focused policies is far from well-established. The empirical foundations of many conventional wisdoms as well as of popular policies remain fragile due to the dearth of reliable gender-segregated data and rigorous empirical studies. The paper underscores the need for more careful empirical analyses as an input to formulating sound public policy with regard to gender and poverty.     

International migration and real wages: a resolution note

The authors examine the impact of international labor migration on wages in country of origin. Two types of emigration are distinguished: bundled emigration, which can result in a reduction of real wages; and pure labor emigration, which results in an increase in real wages.     

International Migration,remittances and income distribution in the source country: a synthesis

The paper explores, under a wide variety of circumstances, the welfare impact of emigration. The analytical framework posited is a simple two-factor, two-commodity, two-class general equilibrium model that makes a distinction between traded and non-traded goods. The principal aim is to collect and synthesize the well-known results in the literature, derived from diverse analytical frameworks, as well as to establish a number of new ones. It is shown that pure emigration can be beneficial to the non-emigrants in the source country, irrespective of the welfare criteria adopted, if accompanied by sufficient remittances. The paper also highlights the fact that emigation does not affect all classes in society symmetrically. The division of losers and gainers depends on the volume of remittances, the distribution of factor endowments and the type of emigration.     

A note on international migration,non-traded goods and economic welfare in the source country

"This note extends the work of Rivera-Batiz to the case where capital is collectively owned and the decision to emigrate entails both a withdrawal of labor services from the source-country and the surrender of the ownership of capital. In this framework, which seems to have wide real-world relevance for socialist, labor-managed and peasant economies, it is found that emigration helps increase the welfare of the non-migrant. This result, which seems quite robust to its specifications, is exactly the opposite of that of Rivera-Batiz and points to the need for great caution in drawing policy conclusions with regard to issues pertaining to emigration."     

NEOCLASSICAL POLITICAL ECONOMY: AN APPLICATION TO TRADE POLICIES

Abstract. This paper starts with a review of the literature on 'neoclassical'political economy and then goes on to apply this perspective to the issue of trade liberalization. In this connection, the paper critically discusses various political economy models which have been advanced to explain patterns of trade policies in both developed and developing countries and assesses them in light of recent empirical evidence. The paper also makes a brief review of the empirical planning studies which estimate the gains from trade liberalization.