1. Smallholder Livelihood Adaptation in the Context of Neoliberal Policy Reforms: A Case of Maize Farmers in Southern Veracruz, Mexico
- Author
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Marrit van den Berg, Sytske Floortje Groenewald, Wageningen University and Research [Wageningen] (WUR), and Development Economics group
- Subjects
Economic growth ,inequality ,poverty ,growth ,050204 development studies ,united-states ,vulnerability ,WASS ,Sociology of Consumption and Households ,Context (language use) ,expenditure data ,Development ,Ontwikkelingseconomie ,rural livelihoods ,[SHS]Humanities and Social Sciences ,Development Economics ,framework ,0502 economics and business ,Development economics ,Economics ,Social Sciences & Humanities ,050207 economics ,Free trade ,Comparative advantage ,2. Zero hunger ,Sustainable development ,Government ,Liberalization ,Poverty ,05 social sciences ,1. No poverty ,Livelihood ,trade liberalization ,Sociologie van Consumptie en Huishoudens ,strategies ,8. Economic growth - Abstract
International audience; Governments around the world have embraced trade liberalisation as a means of enhancing efficiency to realise economic growth and alleviate poverty. Likewise, the Mexican government implemented neoliberal policy reforms, the NAFTA in particular, to stimulate sustainable development. Using the Mexican maize sector as illustration, this paper describes the adaptation process of smallholders to market changes shaped by these reforms. Going beyond the aggregated level, we have investigated smallholders' livelihood strategies. Contrary to what economic models estimated, our data suggests that farmers intensified the cultivation of maize rather than switch to sectors in which Mexico has a comparative advantage.
- Published
- 2012