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The Socio-Economic Situation of Female Heads and Poor Heads of Households in Rural Botswana: A Village Case Study

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  • Moepeng, Pelotshweu T.
  • Tisdell, Clement A.

Abstract

This article explores the socio-economic situation of female heads and poor heads of household in rural Botswana by means of a case study of the village of Nshakazhogwe, a village considered to be typical for rural east Botswana. It examines the extent to which the occurrence of poverty of household heads is related to their gender, varies with the numbers in that household, and depends on whether or not they have paid employment. The number of sources and types of sources of income that household heads have are considered and are found to be related to whether they are poor or not. Transfers of income (private and from government) are given particular attention as a potential means of reducing the incidence of poverty. In this regard, poor heads of household are found to be at a disadvantage compared to non-poor heads. The level of educational attainment of household heads in the village is studied and is shown to be related to their gender, as is the use of credit and sources from which credit is obtained. The study finds that government policy in Botswana is not well targeted to assisting female heads of household. On the face of it, policy seems to favour those rural heads of household that are not poor rather than the poor ones. However, it may be that government transfers enable some who could otherwise be poor to rise above the poverty line. This needs more study.

Suggested Citation

  • Moepeng, Pelotshweu T. & Tisdell, Clement A., 2008. "The Socio-Economic Situation of Female Heads and Poor Heads of Households in Rural Botswana: A Village Case Study," Social Economics, Policy and Development Working Papers 123544, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:uqsese:123544
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.123544
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Quisumbing, Agnes R. & Haddad, Lawrence & Pena, Christine, 2001. "Are women overrepresented among the poor? An analysis of poverty in 10 developing countries," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 66(1), pages 225-269, October.
    2. Kapur Mehta, Aasha & Shah, Amita, 2003. "Chronic Poverty in India: Incidence, Causes and Policies," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 31(3), pages 491-511, March.
    3. Heidhues, Franz & Schrieder, Gertrud & Zeller, Manfred & von Braun, Joachim, 1997. "Rural finance for food security for the poor," Food policy reviews 4, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    4. Wunder, Sven, 2001. "Poverty Alleviation and Tropical Forests--What Scope for Synergies?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 29(11), pages 1817-1833, November.
    5. Tebogo B. Seleka, 2004. "Diversification in Botswana's Agricultural Sector: Issues, prospects and challenges," Books, Botswana Institute for Development Policy Analysis, number 28.
    6. Tisdell, Clement A., 1993. "Poverty - Dynamic and Sustainability Perspectives Implications for Welfare and Policy with Reference to India," Social Economics, Policy and Development Working Papers 106951, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    7. Bardhan, Pranab & Udry, Christopher, 1999. "Development Microeconomics," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780198773719, Decembrie.
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    Cited by:

    1. Khaufelo Raymond Lekobane & Keneilwe S Mooketsane, 2016. "Rural Poverty in Botswana: A Gendered Analysis," Journal of Social and Development Sciences, AMH International, vol. 7(1), pages 48-58.
    2. Egessa Abel & Nnyanzi John Bosco & Muwanga James, 2021. "Determinants of youth unemployment in Uganda: The role of gender, education, residence, and age," IZA Journal of Labor Policy, Sciendo & Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 11(1), pages 1-29, January.

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