Resource information
According to global spatial data sets in
2000 more than one-third of the rural population in
developing countries was located on less favored
agricultural land and areas. Less favored agricultural lands
are susceptible to low productivity and degradation, because
their agricultural potential is constrained biophysically by
terrain, poor soil quality, or limited rainfall. Less
favored agricultural areas include less favored agricultural
lands plus favorable agricultural land that is remote, that
is, land in rural areas with high agricultural potential but
with limited access. The paper presents tests of whether
these spatial distributions of rural population influence
poverty directly or indirectly via income growth in 83
developing countries from 2000 to 2012. The analysis finds
no evidence of a direct impact on poverty, but there is a
significant indirect impact via the elasticity of poverty
reduction with respect to growth. Reducing poverty requires
targeting rural populations in less favored lands and remote
areas, in addition to encouraging out-migration in some areas.
