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Taboos, Agriculture and Poverty

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  • David Stifel
  • Marcel Fafchamps
  • Bart Minten

Abstract

We study the impact of work taboos (fady days) on agriculture and poverty. Using cross-sectional data from a national household survey for Madagascar, we find that 18 per cent of agricultural households have two or more fady days per week and that an extra fady day is associated with 6 per cent lower per capita consumption and 5 per cent lower rice productivity. To address the possible endogeneity of fady days, we present instrumental variable estimates and heterogeneous effect regressions using village fixed effects. We find that smaller households and those with less education employ less labour in villages with more fady days.

Suggested Citation

  • David Stifel & Marcel Fafchamps & Bart Minten, 2011. "Taboos, Agriculture and Poverty," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 47(10), pages 1455-1481.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jdevst:v:47:y:2011:i:10:p:1455-1481
    DOI: 10.1080/00220388.2011.561322
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    2. Bellemare, Marc F., 2012. "As You Sow, So Shall You Reap: The Welfare Impacts of Contract Farming," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 40(7), pages 1418-1434.
    3. Herrera-Almanza, Catalina & Rosales-Rueda, Maria F., 2023. "Community-based health programs and child vaccinations: Evidence from Madagascar," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    4. D'Haene, E. & Desiere, S. & D'Haese, M. & Verbeke, W. & Schoors, K., 2018. "Religion, food choices, and demand seasonality: Evidence from the Ethiopian milk market," 2018 Conference, July 28-August 2, 2018, Vancouver, British Columbia 276029, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    5. Ouedraogo, Aissatou, 2015. "Family Structure and Intrahousehold Resource Allocation: Evidence from Mali," 2015 AAEA & WAEA Joint Annual Meeting, July 26-28, San Francisco, California 205772, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.

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