PI(s): Hooimeijer, Pieter
Co-PI(s): Mathai, Jose; Ndaruhuye, Diedonne Muhoza; Kabano, Ignace Habimana; Nkurunziza, Joseph; Temel, Tugrul; Rutayisire, Pierre-Claver
Affiliation(s): Utrecht University
Institutional Partner(s): NWO/WOTRO
Project Dates:
Start: 2009
End: 2012
Data Source(s): DHS, Surveys on Living Conditions (EIC), Social Accounting Matrix from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning
Methods: Multilevel Analysis
Geographic Location(s): Rwanda
Description:
Despite a high level of economic growth, population growth in Rwanda is still outpacing the rate of poverty reduction. To create capital and labor necessary for economic development, it is imperative that policymakers break the cycle of decreasing agricultural productivity, high population growth, and increasing poverty. Reproductive health could be a key mechanism to disrupting this cycle by addressing the high levels of infant and child mortality. Reproductive health policies have the potential to reduce infant and child mortality in the short run and to create a financial surplus at the household level, allowing for investments in the health and education of the children. This research examines the links among family planning, sectoral growth, and income distribution in Rwanda. The rural income gain spreads over the entire economy, whereas the urban income gain largely remains within urban areas, suggesting relatively larger income multiplier effects of rural development policies. Investing in education, health, and family planning promises a significant increase in agricultural production. Targeted rural development policies seem to be the best strategy to bring growth and harmoniously improve income distribution. Investing in family planning/health is a viable strategy to promote agricultural growth and reduce poverty through employment created in the rural sector.
Research Outputs:
Muhoza, Dieudonne Ndaruhuye, Broekhuis, Annelet & Hooimeijer, Pieter. (2015). Demand and Unmet Need to Space Births in Rwanda: A Two-Step Analysis of Determinants. Journal of Population and Social Studies, 23 (1). DOI: 10.14456/jpss.2015.2
Muhoza, Dieudonné Nkurunziza, Broekhuis, Annelet & Hooimeijer, Pieter. (2014). Variations in Desired Family Size and Excess Fertility in East Africa. International Journal of Population Research, 2014(486079). DOI: 10.1155/2014/486079
Muhoza, Dieudonné Nkurunziza, Broekhuis, Annelet & Hooimeijer, Pieter. (2009). Demand and unmet need for means of family limitation in Rwanda. International Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 35(3), 122-130. DOI: 10.1363/3512209
Nkurunziza, Joseph, Broekhuis, Annelet & Hooimeijer, Pieter. (2012). Free Education in Rwanda: Just One Step towards Reducing Gender and Sibling Inequalities. Education Research International. DOI: 10.1155/2012/396019
Ndaruhuye, Dieudonné Muhoza, Broekhuis, Annelet & Hooimeijer, Pieter. (2009). Demand and unmet need for means of family limitation in Rwanda. International Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 35 (3), 122-30. DOI: 10.1363/3512209
Temel, Tugrul. (2011) Family Planning, growth and income distribution in Rwanda: SAM multiplier and graph theoretic path analysis (Development Research Institute, Universiteit van Tilburg (IVO) Working Paper No. 11-06).
Temel, Tugrul. (2014). Family Planning, Growth, Income Distribution: Graph-Theoretic Path Analysis of Rwanda. Journal of Economic Development, 39(1).
Temel, Tugrul. (2011). Family size, human capital and growth: structural path analysis of Rwanda (Munich Personal RePEc Archive (MPRA) Paper).