7 research outputs found
The economics of climate change vulnerability, adaptation and mitigation in Tanzania
No full textIncludes bibliographical references.In Sub-Saharan Africa, climate change is set to hit the agricultural sector the most severely and cause suffering particularly for smallholder farmers. To cushion themselves against potential welfare losses, smallholder farmers need to recognize the changes already taking place in their climate and undertake appropriate investments in adaptation. This study investigates whether these smallholder farmers in Tanzania recognize climate change and, consequently, adapt to it in their agricultural activities. The study also investigates the factors influencing their choice of adaptation methods. In order to achieve this, the study analysed data from 534 randomly selected households in a sample of districts representing the six of the seven agro-ecological regions of the country. The data shows that Tanzanian smallholder farmers have observed changes in mean and variance precipitation and temperature and responded to it. The farmers have generally used short-season crops, drought-resistant crops, irrigation, changing planting dates and tree planting to adapt to the negative impacts of climate change on their agricultural yields. In this study, selection bias is corrected using a Heckman sample selection model. A binary probit model is used as a selection equation to investigate the factors influencing a farmer’s decision to undertake any adaptation at all to climate change while a multinomial probit model is used as an outcome equation to investigate the factors influencing farmers’ choice of specific adaptation methods. The inverse Mill’s ratio reported selection bias in choosing three of the adaptation methods. The findings of the study suggest that the Tanzanian government needs to assist smallholder farmers overcome the constraints they face in their attempts to adapt. The government can play a significant role by promoting adaptation methods appropriate for particular circumstances e.g. particular crops for different agro-ecological zones
An analysis of factors affecting household willingness to participate in the REDD+ programme in Tanzania
No full textTanzania has high rates of deforestation and forest degradation. Reducing deforestation and forest degradation is an important strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, asking households to reduce deforestation means asking them to sacrifice direct benefits from forests, such as energy resources. The REDD+ programme provides a way to compensate households. This study estimates households’ willingness to accept forest-use restrictions governing participation in the REDD+ programme and its determinants. The results show that households would participate in REDD+ if the programme were to compensate them with an average of USD 2072 per year. The determinants of willingness to participate are analysed using the Heckman sample selection model. The results reveal that awareness about REDD+ economic incentives, and that deforestation and forest degradation is not good for the environment, and the increased time spent collecting the most important forest products increased probability of household participation. Households that earned more from forest products demanded greater compensation to participate. The results further revealed that, once a household is aware of the programme and its incentives and decides to participate, it tended to demand less compensation. The Government of Tanzania is advised to (i) collect baseline data in order to differentiate incentives for households depending on their forest reliance, (ii) educate people about the relationship between REDD+ and climate change to increase the cooperation of the communities
Inflation, Output and Monetary Policy in South Africa
No full textMonetary EconomicsSouth Africa adopted inflation targeting as its monetary policy framework in
February 2000. The country’s monetary authorities, however, have struggled to
keep inflation within the targeted 3%-6% band. A review of the literature reveals
that an understanding of the inflation-output trade-off is essential for the
achievement of price stability. The effects of policy may be different depending on
whether the inflation-output trade-off is symmetric or asymmetric; and when it is
asymmetric, the outcome may vary contingent on whether the asymmetry is
convex or concave. In South Africa, the nature of this relationship is not known.
Estimation of the inflation-expectations augmented Phillips curve using the
difference Generalized Method of Moments on quarterly time series data for the
period 2000:3 to 2015:1 reveals that South Africa’s Phillips curve is concave
asymmetric. These estimation results, however, may not be policy-invariant because
they are obtained from “highly” aggregated historical data and the model
parameters are not structural. Consistent with the Lucas Critique, we formulate a
New Keynesian dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model calibrated on South
African data. Simulation results of the model show that a negative demand shock
reduces inflation and output while a positive demand shock of the same
magnitude leads to a smaller increase in inflation and a larger increase in output,
confirming the concave asymmetric inflation-output relationship found earlier.
Concavity of the Phillip’s curve implies declining sensitivity of inflation to the
strength of the economy, suggesting that any given change in inflation requires an
increasingly larger adjustment in output.African Economic Research Consortiu
Challenges and opportunities of climate change adaptation strategies among smallholder horticultural farmers in rural Tanzania
No full textAdapting to climate change is critical for smallholder farmers, as it directly influences agricultural productivity and livelihood security. While previous studies in sub-Saharan Africa and Tanzania have documented various coping measures, they often overlook the intersection of demographic differences, perceived opportunities, and barriers among smallholder horticultural farmers. This study examined challenges and opportunities of climate change adaptation strategies among such farmers in Mbeya, Tanzania. An exploratory qualitative design was applied, using focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews with 50 purposively selected farmers to explore their understanding, adaptation practices, and constraints. Findings show that understanding of climate change varied, with farmer organization leaders exhibiting broader, more inclusive knowledge. Key adaptation strategies included adopting climate-resilient crop varieties, improving water management through drip irrigation and rainwater harvesting, and diversifying income via high-value crops and off-farm activities. Demographic differences shaped approaches: female adults prioritized social and financial measures, such as savings groups, crop insurance, and peer learning; male adults focused on resource-intensive practices like large-scale water harvesting and soil fertility management; youths pursued innovative measures including the use of weather forecasts, access to microloans, and cultivation of fast-maturing crops. However, women faced financial and knowledge gaps; men encountered poor infrastructure and limited markets; and youths struggled with institutional barriers and insufficient climate information. The study recommends inclusive policies that enhance affordable finance, strengthen rural infrastructure, address institutional gaps, remove social and cultural barriers, and improve extension services to deliver timely climate information. These measures can strengthen smallholder resilience and sustain livelihoods amid increasing climate risks
Ontological intuition and the notion of panamorization in the philosophy of J. Weissgerber
No full textČinjenica je da su za komunističkoga režima u Hrvatskoj djelovali vrsni katolički filozofi, većinom svećenici. Oni su, istina nepriznati od javnosti, svojim idejama, u prvom redu svojom otvorenošću i spremnošću na svestrani dijalog, bili inspiracija mnogim kršćanskim intelektualcima. Jedan od takvih filozofa bio je i Josip Weissgerber (1922.-1985.), profesor filozofske antropologije, psihologije i povijesti suvremene filozofije na Filozofsko-teološkom institutu Družbe Isusove u Zagrebu, odnosno na teološkim učilištima u Zambiji i Zairu.
Weissgerber je na Katoličkom bogoslovnom fakultetu u Zagrebu diplomirao teologiju. Na Filozofskom fakultetu Sveučilišta u Zagrebu diplomirao je psihologiju, njemački, francuski i engleski jezik. Na katoličkom sveučilištu u Louvainu 1970. godine obranio je doktorat iz psihologije te 1972. godine i doktorat iz filozofije.
Weissgerber je u hrvatsku filozofsku misao unio ideje Th. de Chardina, K. Rahnera i E. Coretha, pa je prema autoru ovog priloga Weissgerberova misao živo svjedočanstvo da je hrvatska kršćanska filozofija spremno slijedila trag zapadnih filozofskih stremljenja i nastojanja.
Autor ovoga članka predstavlja kao prvo Weissgerberovu filozofsku metodu; drugo, pokazuje Weissgerberov put od ontološke intuicije do panamorizacije te treće, istražuje elemente i sadržaj dijaloga s marksitima i evolucionistima.Many excellent Catholic philosophers, mainly priests, did in fact remain active in their field during the Communist regime in Croatia. Although not publically acknowledged, they indeed inspired many Christian intellectuals with their ideas, and primarily with their openness and willingness to initiate dialogue. One such philosopher was Josip Weissgerber (1922 - 1985), professor of philosophical anthropology, psychology and the history of contemporary philosophy at the Philosophical-Theological Institute of the Society of Jesus in Zagreb, as well as at the schools of theology in Zambia and Zaire.
Weissgerber received his degree in theology from the Catholic Faculty of Theology in Zagreb. At the Faculty of Philosophy at Zagreb University he received his degrees in psychology, German, French and English. He earned his doctorate in psychology at the Catholic University in Louvain in 1970, and in 1972 obtained there his doctoral degree in philosophy.
Weissgerber introduced into Croatian philosphical reflection the ideas of T. de Chardin, K. Rahner and E. Coreth, and thus, according to the author of this article, Weissgerber's thought is living testimony of the fact that Croatian Christian philosophy readily pursued the philosophical aspirations and endeavours of the West.
The author of this article endeavours to: 1. present Weissgerber's philosophical method; 2. trace Weissgerber's path from ontological intuition to panamorization, and 3. examine the elements and the content of his dialogue with Marxists and Evolutionists
