Rural transformation and development

This PhD research project deals with various aspects of rural transformation and aims at analyzing the impact these transformations have on the economic development process in rural areas of developing countries. Particular attention will be paid to the transformation and modernization of food supply chains, the associated spread of private standards and rural labor market developments. The research will focus on the implications towards multiple development goals, including food and nutrition security, income growth, poverty reduction, access to clean energy, decent employment and empowerment of vulnerable groups. The PhD project entails a macro-economic and a micro-economic component. The research will rely on existing secondary databases and on primary survey data collected during field work, and on various statistical and econometric techniques.