RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Activity Choice, Labor Allocation, and Forest Use in Malawi
JF Land Economics
JO Land Econ
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 503
OP 517
DO 10.3368/le.81.4.503
VO 81
IS 4
A1 Fisher, Monica
A1 Shively, Gerald E.
A1 Buccola, Steven
YR 2005
UL http://le.uwpress.org/content/81/4/503.abstract
AB This article examines the determinants of activity choice affecting forest use among low-income households in Malawi. Data from three villages are used to estimate a system of household labor share equations for maize production, forest employment, and non-forest employment. A system estimation approach is used to identify factors influencing the competing and synergistic livelihood strategies which households undertake at the forest margin. Results from constrained maximum likelihood estimation indicate heightened incentives to degrade forests when returns to forest use are high. Factors reducing forest pressure include favorable returns to non-forest employment, secondary education of the household head, and wealth. (JEL J22, Q12)