DOCSLIB.ORG

In Tobacco Growing Communities in Tabora Region, Tanzania

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
In Tobacco Growing Communities in Tabora Region, Tanzania THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA RAPID ASSESSMENT ON CHILD LABOUR IN TOBACCO GROWING COMMUNITIES IN TABORA REGION, TANZANIA RAPID ASSESSMENT ON CHILD LABOUR IN TOBACCO GROWING COMMUNITIES IN TABORA REGION, TANZANIA International Programme on Eliminating Child Labour International Labour Organization (ILO) Copyright © International Labour Organization and Government of Tanzania, 2016 First published 2016 For rights of reproduction application should be made either to the ILO: ILO Publications (Rights and Permissions), International Labour Office, CH-1211 Geneva 22, Switzerland, or by email: [email protected] or to the Government of Tanzania. For rights of translation application should be made to the ILO, acting on behalf of both organizations, to the address mentioned above. Libraries, institutions and other users registered with reproduction rights organizations may make copies in accordance with the licences issued to them for this purpose. Visit www.ifrro.org to find the reproduction rights organization in your country. ILO and the Government of Tanzania Rapid assessment on child labour in tobacco growing communities in Tabora region, Tanzania / International Labour Office, Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (FUNDAMENTALS); Government of Tanzania - Geneva: ILO, 2016 ISBN: 9789221312307 (print); 9789221312314 (web pdf) International Labour Office. Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work Branch. Tanzania. Ofisi ya Taifa ya Takwimu. child labour / tobacco worker / working conditions / demographic aspect / survey / regional level / Tanzania 13.01.2 ILO Cataloguing in Publication Data Acknowledgements The rapid assessment was prepared by Mlwande C.D. Madihi, independent consultant. Technical inputs were provided by Charlotte Goemans, Associate Expert Child Labour and Youth Employment, ILO Dar es Salaam Country Office, by Nadine Osseiran, Senior Programme and Operations Officer, ILO Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work Branch, and by Michaelle de Cock, Senior Statistician, ILO Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work Branch. The rapid assessment team would like to thank all key informants and children for their time and useful inputs into the study. Funding for this ILO publication was provided by the Japan Tobacco International. This publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of Japan Tobacco International, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by Japan Tobacco International. The designations employed in this publicationand the presentation of data therein do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the ILO and the Government of Tanzania concerning the legal status of any country, area or territory or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers. ILO and the Government of Tanzania do not accept any responsibility in case of inaccuracy, error or omission of for any consequence related of the use of this data. Cover photo © M. Crozet Design and printing by the International Training Centre of the ILO, Turin – Italy Foreword In 2012, the ILO estimated that there were as is a unique public-private sector partnership many as 168 million children in child labour between ILO, Japan Tobacco International (JTI), all over the world. In sub-Saharan Africa, and Winrock International. In 2015, Tanzania 59 million children are in child labour. Africa has been identified as one of the ARISE continues to be the region with the highest beneficiary countries in addition to Brazil, Malawi incidence with more than 1 in 5 children in child and Zambia. ARISE is a very timely initiative labour. Agriculture is by far the sector where which will give a new impetus to the fight against the highest number of child labourers can be child labour. found. In 2015, with ILO’s support, the National Bureau of Statistics and the Government of This report has been undertaken to start off Tanzania developed a child labour module the ARISE programme in Tanzania on the right within the Integrated Labour Force Survey. In foot and with the required information on the Tanzania, according to the survey, there are target communities and beneficiaries. The rapid more than 4 million children in child labour. assessment aims at providing a comprehensive About 29 per cent of children aged 5-17 years, situational analysis of child labour in the ARISE are engaged in child labour in various economic target districts in Tabora region; as well as to sectors, including agriculture, domestic work, map the capacity of partners and stakeholders; fishing, and mining industries. and to provide recommendations for appropriate strategies and roles for implementing agencies Since 2001, the Government of Tanzania has and key partners. been committed to eradicating child labour. Tanzania has ratified the Convention on the We hope that this report will help development Rights of the Child (CRC), ILO Convention practitioners and policy makers alike by No. 182 on the Elimination of the Worst Forms providing insights into the child labour situation of Child Labour and Convention No. 138 on the ground so that possible solutions can be on the Minimum Age for Employment. With tailored to the context. We also hope that this ILO’s support, the country has developed provides one more step towards the elimination and implemented child labour elimination of child labour and full school enrollment of programmes; updated and revised the existing children in Tanzania. legislative and policy framework; and developed a National Action Plan (NAP) for the elimination of child labour. Child labour has also been prioritized in Tanzania’s Decent Work Country Mary Kawar Programme (DWCP). Nevertheless, much more Director remains to be done to reduce the number of child labourers in Tanzania. The Achieving Reduction of Child Labour in ILO Country Office for the United Republic of Tanzania, support of Education Programme (ARISE), Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and Burundi iii Table of contents Foreword ....................................................................................................................................iii Abbreviations and Acronyms .......................................................................................................ix Executive summary .....................................................................................................................xi CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ..............................................................................................1 1.1 Background and scope of the study ............................................................................. 1 1.2 Research methods and tools ........................................................................................ 1 1.3 Sampling procedure .................................................................................................... 2 1.4 Profile of respondents ................................................................................................... 3 1.5 Limitations of the study ................................................................................................. 4 1.6 Profile of Tabora Region ................................................................................................ 4 1.7 Report structure ...........................................................................................................6 CHAPTER TWO: BACKGROUND TO CHILD LABOUR .................................................................7 2.1 International legal and policy framework ........................................................................ 7 2.2 National legal and policy framework ............................................................................. 9 2.3 National Programmes on Child Labour ....................................................................... 12 CHAPTER THREE: NATURE AND EXTENT OF WORST FORMS OF CHILD LABOUR IN TARGETED VILLAGES ...........................................................................................15 3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 15 3.2 Demographic variables of working children ................................................................ 15 3.3 Education status of working children ...........................................................................19 3.4 Socio-economic characteristics of parents or guardians of working children .................22 3.5 Nature of work and working conditions ........................................................................23 3.6 Causes and knowledge of, and attitudes to, child labour ..............................................32 v RAPID ASSESSMENT ON CHILD LABOUR IN TOBACCO GROWING COMMUNITIES IN TABORA REGION, TANZANIA CHAPTER FOUR: CAPACITY MAPPING ON PARTNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS ........................37 4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................37 4.2 Gaps and challenges on advocacy and awareness on child labour ...............................37 4.3 The Institutional capacity of cooperatives, business associations and micro-finance institutions ........................................................................................................................37 4.4 Ongoing and past Initiatives on child labour elimination and promotion of children’s education and development ..............................................................................................40
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Basic Demographic and Socio-Economic Profile
    The United Republic of Tanzania Basic Demographic and Socio-Economic Profile National Bureau of Statistics Ministry of Finance Dar es Salaam and Office of Chief Government Statistician Ministry of State, President ‟s Office, State House and Good Governance Zanzibar April, 2014 UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA, ADMINISTRATIVE BOUNDARIES Basic Demographic and Socio-Economic Profile Foreword The 2012 Population and Housing Census (PHC) for the United Republic of Tanzania was carried out on the 26th August, 2012. This was the fifth Census after the Union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar in 1964. Other censuses were carried out in 1967, 1978, 1988 and 2002. The 2012 PHC, like previous censuses, will contribute to the improvement of quality of life of Tanzanians through the provision of current and reliable data for policy formulation, development planning and service delivery as well as for monitoring and evaluating national and international development frameworks. The 2012 PHC is unique as the collected information will be used in monitoring and evaluating the Development Vision 2025 for Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar Development Vision 2020, Five Year Development Plan 2011/12–2015/16, National Strategy for Growth and Reduction of Poverty (NSGRP) commonly known as MKUKUTA and Zanzibar Strategy for Growth and Reduction of Poverty (ZSGRP) commonly known as MKUZA. The Census will also provide information for the evaluation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2015. The Poverty Monitoring Master Plan, which is the monitoring tool for NSGRP and ZSGRP, mapped out core indicators for poverty monitoring against the sequence of surveys, with the 2012 PHC being one of them. Several of these core indicators for poverty monitoring are measured directly from the 2012 PHC.
    [Show full text]
  • Tanzania 2018 International Religious Freedom Report
    TANZANIA 2018 INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM REPORT Executive Summary The constitutions of the union government and of the semiautonomous government in Zanzibar both prohibit religious discrimination and provide for freedom of religious choice. Since independence, the country has been governed by alternating Christian and Muslim presidents. Sixty-one members of Uamsho, an Islamist group advocating for Zanzibar’s full autonomy, remained in custody without a trial since their arrest in 2013 under terrorism charges. In May the Office of the Registrar of Societies, an entity within the Ministry of Home Affairs charged with overseeing religious organizations, released a letter ordering the leadership of the Catholic and Lutheran Churches to retract statements that condemned the government for increasing restrictions on freedoms of speech and assembly, and alleged human rights abuses. After a public outcry, the minister of home affairs denounced the letter and suspended the registrar. The Zanzibar Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources destroyed a church being built on property owned by the Pentecostal Assemblies of God after the High Court of Zanzibar ruled the church was built on government property. This followed a protracted court battle in which Zanzibar courts ruled the church was allowed on the property. Vigilante killings of persons accused of practicing witchcraft continued to occur. As of July, the government reported 117 witchcraft-related incidents. There were some attacks on churches and mosques throughout the country, especially in rural regions. Civil society groups continued to promote peaceful interactions and religious tolerance. The embassy launched a three-month public diplomacy campaign in support of interfaith dialogue and sponsored the visit of an imam from the United States to discuss interfaith and religious freedom topics with government officials and civil society.
    [Show full text]
  • 12028809 02.Pdf
    Appendix 1 Member List of the Study Team Appendix 1 Member List of the Study Team (1) During Field Survey (2nd Phase of the Study on Rural Water Supply in Tabora Region) Mr. Yasumasa Team Leader/Rural Water Supply Earth System Science Co., Ltd YAMASAKI Planner Mr. Takuya YABUTA Deputy Team Leader/Groundwater Earth System Science Co., Ltd Development Planner Mr. Masakazu SAITO Hydrogeologist 1，Implementation and Procurement Planner/Cost Earth System Science Co., Ltd. Estimator 1 Mr. Tadashi Hydrogeologist 2 Earth System Science Co., Ltd. YAMAKAWA (Mitsubishi Materials Techno Corporation) Mr. Hiroyuki Specialist for Water Quality, Earth System Science Co., Ltd. NAKAYAMA Database/GIS 1 Mr. Shigekazu Hydrologist/Meteorologist Kokusai Kogyo Co., Ltd. FUJISAWA Ms. Mana ISHIGAKI Socio-Economist Japan Techno Co., Ltd. (I. C. Net Ltd.) Mr. Teruki MURAKAMI Urban Water Supply Planner Japan Techno Co., Ltd. Mr. Susumu ENDO Geophysicist 1 Earth System Science Co., Ltd. (Mitsubishi Materials Techno Corporation) Mr. Kengo OHASHI Geophysicist 2 Earth System Science Co., Ltd. Mr. Tatsuya SUMIDA Drilling Engineer, Supervisor of Hand Pump Repairing, Earth System Science Co., Ltd. Implementation and Procurement Planner/Cost Estimator 2 Mr. Daisuke NAKAJIMA Water Supply Facility Designer Kokusai Kogyo Co., Ltd. Mr. Naoki MORI Specialist for Operation and Japan Techno Co., Ltd. Maintenance Mr. Norikazu Specialist for Environment and Kokusai Kogyo Co., Ltd. YAMAZAKI Social Consideration Mr. Naoki TAKE Specialist for `Public Health and Earth System Science Co., Ltd. Hygiene (Kaihatsu Management Consulting, Inc.) Mr. Tadashi SATO Coordinator, Specialist for Earth System Science Co., Ltd. Database/GIS 2 A1 - 1 Appendix-1 Member List of the Study Team (2) Explanation of Preparatory Survey Senior Adviser to the Director General, Mr.
    [Show full text]
  • Tabora Region Investment Guide
    THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA PRESIDENT’S OFFICE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATION AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT TABORA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE The preparation of this guide was supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF) 182 Mzinga way/Msasani Road Oyesterbay P.O. Box 9182, Dar es Salaam ISBN: 978 - 9987 - 664 - 16 - 0 Tel: (+255-22) 2195000 - 4 E-mail: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Website: www.esrftz.or.tz Website: www.tz.undp.org TABORA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE | i TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES .......................................................................................................................................iv LIST OF FIGURES ....................................................................................................................................iv LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ....................................................................................................................v DEMONSTRATION OF COMMITMENT FROM THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT ..................................................................................................................................... viii FOREWORD ..............................................................................................................................................ix EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ......................................................................................................................xii DISCLAIMER ..........................................................................................................................................xiv
    [Show full text]
  • Monthly Report No 43 1 – 30 June 2019 Feed the Future Tanzania Land Tenure Assistance (Lta)
    MONTHLY REPORT NO 43 1 – 30 JUNE 2019 FEED THE FUTURE TANZANIA LAND TENURE ASSISTANCE (LTA) CONTRACT NO: AID -OAA -I-12 -00031 TASK ORDER NO: AID-621-TO-16-00005 Submission Date: July 15, 2019 LTA conducted three live radio programs on BOMBA FM in Mbeya region and NURU and Ebony FM in Iringa region on women's land rights and their participation in leadership positions This document was produced as part of the Feed the Future initiative for review by the United States Agency for International Development. It was prepared by DAI for Feed the Future Tanzania Land Tenure Assistance Activity, Contract No. AID-OAA-I-12-00031 Task Order No. AID-621-TO-16-00005. TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................................................... ii LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................................................. ii ACRONYMS ........................................................................................................................................................ 3 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 5 Highlights .............................................................................................................................................................. 5 STAFFING ...................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Working Paper February 2021 CONTENTS
    THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF SUNFLOWER IN TANZANIA: A CASE OF SINGIDA REGION Aida C. Isinika and John Jeckoniah WP 49 Working Paper February 2021 CONTENTS Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................... 4 Acronyms ........................................................................................................................................... 5 Executive summary ........................................................................................................................... 6 1 Introduction……………………………………………………………………….................................... 7 2 Methodology………………………………………………………………………... ............................... 8 3 Trends in sunflower value chain……………………………………………………. ........................... 9 3.1 Supply and demand ......................................................................................................... 9 3.2 Trend of sunflower production and processing .................................................................. 9 3.3 Increasing processing capacity ....................................................................................... 10 3.4 The role of imports and exports ...................................................................................... 11 4 The sunflower subsector ............................................................................................................ 13 4.1 The market map……………………………………………………………………. ............... 13 4.2 Relations within the sunflower
    [Show full text]
  • A Preliminary Report on Survey in Tabora and Ujiji Sarah Croucher Wesleyan University, [email protected]
    African Diaspora Archaeology Newsletter Volume 9 Article 18 Issue 4 December 2006 12-1-2006 Slave Routes in Western Tanzania: A Preliminary Report on Survey in Tabora and Ujiji Sarah Croucher Wesleyan University, [email protected] Stephanie Wynne-Jones University of York, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umass.edu/adan Recommended Citation Croucher, Sarah and Wynne-Jones, Stephanie (2006) "Slave Routes in Western Tanzania: A Preliminary Report on Survey in Tabora and Ujiji," African Diaspora Archaeology Newsletter: Vol. 9 : Iss. 4 , Article 18. Available at: https://scholarworks.umass.edu/adan/vol9/iss4/18 This Articles, Essays, and Reports is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. It has been accepted for inclusion in African Diaspora Archaeology Newsletter by an authorized editor of ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Croucher and Wynne-Jones: Slave Routes in Western Tanzania: A Preliminary Report on Survey Slave Routes in Western Tanzania: A Preliminary Report on Survey in Tabora and Ujiji. By Sarah Croucher and Stephanie Wynne-Jones[1] The following report is a brief introduction to reconnaissance survey work carried out in Western Tanzania in July 2006 to investigate caravan routes that ran from the East African coast inland as far as the Congo during the 18th and 19th centuries. These routes were tied to the trading of captive Africans from inland areas to the Indian Ocean coast. When they reached the coast, enslaved individuals were either kept to work on local Arab- run plantations, or traded out into the Indian Ocean.
    [Show full text]
  • Poverty in Tanzania: Comparisons Across Administrative Regions
    POVERTY IN TANZANIA: COMPARISONS ACROSS ADMINISTRATIVE REGIONS AN INTERIM REPORT Mkenda A.F, Luvanda E.G, Rutasitara L and A. Naho April 4, 2004 ii Table of Contents POVERTY IN TANZANIA: COMPARISONS ACROSS ADMINISTRATIVE REGIONS ........ i 1 Introduction............................................................................................................................. 1 2 Motivation of the Study .......................................................................................................... 1 3 Methodology........................................................................................................................... 4 3.1 The Coverage ................................................................................................................. 4 3.2 The Data......................................................................................................................... 5 3.3 Poverty Indices............................................................................................................... 6 3.4 Adult Equivalent Scales ................................................................................................. 6 3.5 Poverty Lines ................................................................................................................. 8 4 Empirical Results.................................................................................................................... 9 4.1 Head Count Ratios......................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Scandinavian Institute of African Studies, Uppsala
    Scandinavian Institute of African Studies, Uppsala The "Success Story" of Peasant Tobacco Production in Tanzania Publications from the Centre for Development Research, Copenhagen The "Success Story" of Peasant Tobacco Production in Tanzania The political economy of a commodity producing peasantry Jannik Boesen A. T. Mohele Published by Scandinavian Institute of African Studies, Uppsala 1979 Publications from the Centre for Development Research, Coppnhagen No. l.Bukh, Jette, The Village Woman in Ghana. 118 pp. Uppsala: Scandinavian Institute of African Studies 197 9. No. 2. Boesen,Jannik & Mohele, A.T., The "Success Story" ofPeasant Tobacco Production in Tanzania. 169 pp. Uppsala: Scandinavian Institute of African Studies 197 9. This series contains books written by researchers at the Centre for Development Research, Copenhagen. It is published by the Scandinavian Institute of African Studies, Uppsala, in co-operation with the Centre for Development Research with support from the Danish International Development Agency (Danida). Cover picture and photo on page 1 16 by Jesper Kirknzs, other photos by Jannik Boesen. Village maps measured and drafted by Jannik Boesen and drawn by Gyda Andersen, who also did the other drawings. 0Jannik Boesen 8cA.T. Mohele and the Centre for Development Research 1979 ISSN 0348.5676 ISBN 91-7106-163-0 Printed in Sweden by Offsetcenter ab, Uppsala 197 9 Preface This book is the result of a research project undertaken jointly by the Research Section of the Tanzania Rural Development Bank (TRDB)and the Danish Centre for Development Research (CDR). The research work was carried out between 1976 and 1978 by A.T. Mohele of the TRDB and Jannik Boesen of the CDR.
    [Show full text]
  • In Singida Region, Tanzania
    INSTITUTE OF RESOURCE ASSESSMENT UNWERS1TY OF~DARES SALAAM RESEARCH REPORT NO. 6~ DEVELOPMENT OF WATER SUPPLIES: ~— —~ IN SINGIDA REGION, TANZANIA PAST EXPERIENCES ANfl FUTURE OPTIONS LIGRAHY ~nteni~t~c~ajRsfr~c~C~ntr, t~ComrnunIt~W~t~rSupp’y INGVAR ANDERSSON CAROLYN HANNAN - ANDERSSON ~( 824 —29 02 Institute of Resource Assessment University of Dar es Salaarn Research Report No. 62 DEVELOPMENT OF WATER SUPPLIES IN SINGIDA REGION, TANZANIA PAST EXPERIENCE AND FUTURE OPTIONS. Ingvar Andersson ;- Carolyn Hannan—Andersson I CE~ifl~Rfl ~Tei (C7~ ~1i1 -~ June ~984 Institute of Resource Assessment University of Oar es Salaam Box 35097 Oar es Salaam Tanzania ABSTRACT The water supply/sanitation/health situation in 3 villages in Singida Region was the focus of this study. The objective was to investigate general conditions and to identify the explicit needs of the communities. Relevant socio-economic data on production, livestock, ecological system, etc, is presented, as well as a historical overview of the developments in the water supply sector. Water-use patterns and standards of health, hygiene and sanitation were investigated in 75 households. An attempt was made to evaluate improvements to the water supply in two of the villages, i.e. the functioning of the supplies, the extent of utilization and the impact, e.g. on water use patterns, work burdens and general welfare and health. The effectiveness of the strategy for improving water supplies using shallow wellls with handpumps is assessed. The aspects of density and location of supply are stressed as crucial for the achievement of impact. An alternative strategy is suggested — the improvement of all traditional sources both for domestic and non-domestic uses (livestock and small vegetable gardens).
    [Show full text]
  • Development in East Africa 3
    DEVELOPMENT IN EAST AFRICA 3 Cultural Shift in East Africa: Cultural (Im)materialities Biographies, Developments, DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT IN EAST AFRICA Cultural Shift: Developments, Biographies, (Im) materialities 3 edited by Piotr Cichocki, Maciej Ząbek Development in East Africa Development in East Africa Cultural Shift in East Africa: Developments, Biographies, (Im)materialities edited by Piotr Cichocki, Maciej Ząbek Mkwawa University College of Education (MUCE), a Constituent College of the University of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) & Institute of Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology University of Warsaw (Poland) Iringa – Warsaw 2018 © Copyright by Piotr Cichocki, Maciej Ząbek 2018 Reviewers: Prof. Hayder Ibrahim Ali Prof. Jacek Pawlik Proofreading by Iwona Handzelewicz Cover design by Grzegorz Sztandera ISBN 978-83-7401-639-1 Printed in Poland WDR, Włocławek CONTENTS Introduction – Piotr Cichocki & Maciej Ząbek ................................ 7 Part I DEVELOPMENTS Chapter 1 KAWONGA GERVAS AND WAKATI MALIVA East African Development: Language as a Forgotten Factor .... 31 Chapter 2 MAXMILLIAN J. CHUHILA Commerce or Food? Development Narratives of Maize Farming in Ismani, 1940s to the Present ............................................... 57 Chapter 3 MLOWE N.P. AND JUSTIN K. URASSA Formalization of Customary Land Rights on Rural Household’s Livelihood Outcomes: A Case of Handeni District, Tanzania ..... 91 Chapter 4 MACIEJ ZĄBEK Ujamma. Contemporary Discourse about Julius Nyerere Socialism ................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Rail Transport and Firm Productivity: Evidence from Tanzania
    WPS8173 Policy Research Working Paper 8173 Public Disclosure Authorized Rail Transport and Firm Productivity Evidence from Tanzania Public Disclosure Authorized Atsushi Iimi Richard Martin Humphreys Yonas Eliesikia Mchomvu Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Transport and ICT Global Practice Group August 2017 Policy Research Working Paper 8173 Abstract Railway transport generally has the advantage for large-vol- Rail transport is a cost-effective option for firms. How- ume, long-haul freight operations. Africa possesses ever, the study finds that firms’ inventory is costly. This significant railway assets. However, many rail lines are cur- is a disadvantage of using rail transport. Rail operations rently not operational because of the lack of maintenance. are unreliable, adding more inventory costs to firms. The The paper recasts light on the impact of rail transportation implied elasticity of demand for transport services is esti- on firm productivity, using micro data collected in Tanza- mated at −1.01 to −0.52, relatively high in absolute terms. nia. To avoid the endogeneity problem, the instrumental This indicates the rail users’ sensitivity to prices as well as variable technique is used to estimate the impact of rail severity of modal competition against truck transportation. transport. The paper shows that the overall impact of rail The study also finds that firm location matters to the deci- use on firm costs is significant despite that the rail unit sion to use rail services. Proximity to rail infrastructure rates are set lower when the shipping distance is longer. is important for firms to take advantage of rail benefits. This paper is a product of the Transport and ICT Global Practice Group.
    [Show full text]