Nicola Pontara Title of Thesis
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UNIVERSITY OF LONDON See over for Abstract of Thesis notes on completion Author (full names): Nicola Pontara Title of thesis: A Critical Examination of Theoretical and Methodological Approaches to Low-income Country Labour Markets: A Case Study of Mauritania Degree: Ph. D IpHHBBBBs— This dissertation evaluates the dominant theoretical and methodological approaches to the conceptualisation of the labour market in low-income countries, with particular attention paid to rural areas and to Africa. Using the example of Mauritania, it shows that these are inadequate. The work conducted contends that neo-classical paradigms are ill-equipped to capture the salient characteristics of rural ‘change’ and labour markets in Africa; and argues that a new theoretical and methodological approach towards employment should be at the core of economic and social policies. This thesis applies an analytical framework that draws from classical political economy. In this approach, employment is more important in the reduction o f poverty than usually recognised. In particular, it is maintained that policies geared at generating sustainable and productive employment should be more firmly at the core o f policy making in Mauritania. Methodological lessons are also presented in this dissertation. It is argued in particular that labour market analyses that rely on tools such as living standard measurement surveys systematically underestimate the true extent o f labour market participation in rural Africa. By contrast, micro-surveys that utilise a mix o f quantitative and qualitative methods are able to capture the complexity of labour markets and measure their vibrancy and significance for poverty reduction, notably in contexts characterised by heterogeneity and differentiation rather than homogeneity and equality. These points are discussed in detail when comparing the results o f the 2004 national household survey (EPCV) with those of a micro-survey which focusing on selected village labour markets (RLMS). This work concludes by summarising the advantages of using a political economy framework in the analysis of rural ‘change’ through the lens of the labour market; the main methodological lessons for designing sound labour market research tools; and policy implications for the generation of decent and sustainable employment opportunities in (rural) Mauritania. ProQuest Number: 10673022 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a com plete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. uest ProQuest 10673022 Published by ProQuest LLC(2017). Copyright of the Dissertation is held by the Author. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States C ode Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106- 1346 A Critical Examination of Theoretical and Methodological Approaches to Low-income Country Labour Markets: A Case Study of Mauritania Ph.D. Thesis Nicola Pontara January 2010 Thesis Submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Economics School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) University of London 2 DECLARATION I certify that this thesis, which is submitted for examination for the degree of Doctor in Philosophy in Economics, is solely my own. Details on data sources and attributions are presented on page 12. Nicola Pontara 3 ABSTRACT This dissertation evaluates the dominant theoretical and methodological approaches to the conceptualisation of the labour market in low-income countries, with particular attention paid to rural areas and to Africa. Using the example of Mauritania, it shows that these are inadequate. The work conducted contends that neo-classical paradigms are ill-equipped to capture the salient characteristics of rural ‘change’ and labour markets in Africa; and argues that a new theoretical and methodological approach towards employment should be at the core of economic and social policies. This thesis applies an analytical framework that draws from classical political economy. In this approach, employment is more important in the reduction of poverty than usually recognised. In particular, it is maintained that policies geared at generating sustainable and productive employment should be more firmly at the core of policy making in Mauritania. Methodological lessons are also presented in this dissertation. It is argued in particular that labour market analyses that rely on tools such as living standard measurement surveys systematically underestimate the true extent of labour market participation in rural Africa. By contrast, micro-surveys that utilise a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods are able to capture the complexity of labour markets and measure their vibrancy and significance for poverty reduction, notably in contexts characterised by heterogeneity and differentiation rather than homogeneity and equality. These points are discussed in detail when comparing the results of the 2004 national household survey (EPCV) with those of a micro-survey which focusing on selected village labour markets (RLMS). This work concludes by summarising the advantages of using a political economy framework in the analysis of rural ‘change’ through the lens of the labour market; the main methodological lessons for designing sound labour market research tools; and policy implications for the generation of decent and sustainable employment opportunities in (rural) Mauritania. 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................................13 I. M a in O bjectives a n d T h em es o f th e T h e s i s .............................................................................................................. 13 II. S t r u c t u r e o f t h e T h e s is .......................................................................................................................................................19 CHAPTER 1: TOWARDS AN ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE ANALYSIS OF RURAL POVERTY REDUCTION IN LOW-INCOME COUNTRIES.................................................................21 1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................... 21 1.2 P a r a d ig m S hifts in R u r a l D ev e l o pm e n t T h in k in g (1950-2000)................................................................22 1.3 L ivelih o o d F r a m e w o r k s : Id e o l o g ic a l M a sk s or U se fu l A n a l y t ic a l T o o l s? ..............................38 1.4 A n A l t e r n a t iv e F r a m e w o r k fo r th e A n a l y s is o f R u r a l C h a n g e .........................................................44 CHAPTER 2: THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE RURAL POOR AND EVIDENCE ON THE VITALITY OF LABOUR MARKETS IN AFRICA.................................................................................. 51 2.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................... 51 ; 2 T h e N a t u r e o f R u r a l P o v e r t y in A frica a n d Contemporary N a r r a t iv e s ......................................52 2.3 Em p ir ic a l E v id e n c e o n R u r a l L a b o u r M a rk ets in A f r ic a .........................................................................62 CHAPTER 3: LABOUR MARKET THEORY AND ITS APPLICATION TO THE CONTEXT OF LOW-INCOME COUNTRIES..................................................................................................................... 75 3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................ 75 3.2 o r t h o d o x L a b o u r M a r k e t T h e o r y ............................................................................................................................76 3.3 T o w a r d s a R a d ic a l P o litical E c o n o m y F r a m e w o r k .....................................................................................90 CHAPTER 4: THE LABOUR MARKET DISCOURSE AND THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF MAURITANIA..............................................................................................................................................103 4.1 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................................................................103 4.2 T h e M a u r it a n ia n Ec o n o m y a n d the L a b o u r M ark et Ch a l l e n g e .......................................................104 4.3 Fr o m P re- c o l o n ia l T im es to th e D em ise o f t h e S e c o n d R e p u b l ic .......................................................113 4.4 R a c e , Po litics a n d t h e U n r e so l v e d “Q u e st io n N a t io n a l e ” ....................................................................124 CHAPTER 5: METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES IN LABOUR MARKET RESEARCH AND DATA SOURCES...................................................................................................................................................... 131 5.1