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- Convenors:
-
Abdul-Gafaru Abdulai
(University of Ghana Business School)
Badru Bukenya (Makerere University)
Chiara Cazzuffi (Universidad Mayor)
Cristian Leyton (RIMISP - Latin American Center for Rural Development)
- Stream:
- K: Uneven urban and sub-national development
- Location:
- G5
- Start time:
- 27 June, 2018 at
Time zone: Europe/London
- Session slots:
- 1
Short Abstract:
This panel seeks to collect new evidence on (a) the magnitude of spatial inequality in developing regions; (b) the local and aggregate costs that spatial inequality generates; c) the political economy drivers of spatial inequality; (d) examples of successful policies to address spatial inequality.
Long Abstract:
Amidst growing attention to inequalities in recent years, spatial inequalities have been of particular concern not only because of the conflicts they often engender, but also because they constitute a large component of overall inequality in many developing countries. Indeed, at the heart of the development crisis in many African countries today has been the problem of spatial inequality, in which public services, state capacity, and household wealth are unevenly distributed across geographical units within countries.
This panel seeks to collect new evidence on (a) the magnitude of spatial inequality in developing regions; (b) the local and aggregate costs that spatial inequality generates, including (but not limited to) in terms of conflict and slower growth and poverty reduction; (c) the political economy drivers of spatial inequality, and d) examples of successful policies that have addressed spatial inequality. On c), we are particularly interested in political economy factors which remain poorly understood in view of the dominance of techno-economic explanations in much of current literature on the question of why spatial inequalities emerge and persist overtime.
Accepted papers:
Session 1Paper short abstract:
Using a spatially disaggregated database comparing 10 Latin American countries over the last decade, we present an overview of spatial inequality within countries in a set of capability proxies (education, health, poverty, economic inclusion)
Paper long abstract:
Latin America is one of the most unequal region of the world. The distribution of capabilities, opportunities and outcomes is highly unequal both across individuals and among territories within countries. Recent studies show that these indicators have been improving over time, yet spatial inequality persists and harms opportunities and wellbeing of communities, especially those leaving in rural areas.
Drawing from census and nationally representative household surveys, we built a database at the lowest available level of spatial disaggregation comparing socio-eco indicators among Bolivia, Brasil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, México, Nicaragua and Peru. We present an overview of the evolution of spatial gaps in capabilities indicators over the past ten years, analyzing the differences between dimensions within and among countries, by comparing the magnitude of territorial inequality gaps between/among nations. Finally, recommendations and policy challenges are presented
Paper short abstract:
Using spatial data for 178,681 households in Sub-Saharan Africa, we find that different institutions matter for urban and rural electrification. Our findings suggest that successful rural electrification initiatives require a focus on local-level institutions that predate the colonial period.
Paper long abstract:
We use spatial data on electricity access for 178,681 households in 28 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa to investigate the relationship between institutions and electrification. We find that for urban electrification, the quality of state institutions are the main institutional factors associated with electrification. However, in rural areas, state institutions are insignificant, whereas the degree of political fragmentation associated with long lasting local-level institutions that predate the colonial period is highly significant. Our results are of policy relevance and suggest that for rural electrification initiatives, stakeholders should consider focusing on deploying decentralized generation solutions in areas that have fragmented local-level institutions. This is so as such areas are more likely to suffer from higher coordination costs and have difficulty in internalizing geographic spillovers.
Paper short abstract:
Our research contributes to deepening understanding of the political economy drivers of spatial inequality. Drawing evidence from Ghana and Uganda, we show that politics and the character of inter-elite power relations are the central drivers of spatial inequality in Africa.
Paper long abstract:
What explains the persistence of spatial development disparities between the northern and southern parts of Ghana and Uganda? Employing a political settlements framework, we argue that the historical north-south development divide in these countries is best explained by long-term processes of marginalization and adverse incorporation of the northern regions and their elites into political and bureaucratic structures, and by the nature of dominant ideas around major redistributive policies. However the growing attention to the development of the marginalized northern regions in the countries (e.g. through special development initiatives) and the subsequent reductions in the levels of poverty in these regions suggest that changes in national electoral dynamics can result in new alliances that benefit historically lagging regions.