Amin Mugera, PhD

Eradicating poverty is the number one central objective of international development efforts as encapsulated in the Sustainable Development Goals. Poverty is recognized to have multiple dimensions and economic tools can be used to effectively address its underlying causes and consequences.

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The focus of this research theme is to provide economic analyses of issues related to poverty that can contribute in the design of remedial policies and interventions in low and middle income countries.

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Research Output:

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1. Azeem, M. M., Mugera, A. W., & Schilizzi, S. (2018). Do Social Protection Transfers Reduce Poverty and Vulnerability to Poverty in Pakistan? Household Level Evidence from Punjab. The Journal of Development Studies, 1-27. doi:10.1080/00220388.2018.1448068​. [Link]

2. Azeem, M.M., A. Mugera., and S. Schillizi. “Vulnerability to Multi-Dimensional Poverty: an Empirical Comparison of Alternative Measurement Approaches, The Journal of Development Studies (2017), DOI: 10.1080/00220388.2017.1344646. [Link]

3. Azeem, M.M., A. Mugera., and S. Schillizi. “Living on the edge: Household Vulnerability to Food-Insecurity in the Punjab, Pakistan.” Food Policy 64(2016):1-13. [Link]

4. Azeem, M.M., A. Mugera., S. Schillizi., and K. Siddique. “An Assessment of Vulnerability to Poverty in Punjab, Pakistan: Subjective Choices of Poverty Indicators.” Social Indicators Research (forthcoming 2016). [Link]

5. Azeem, M.M., A. Mugera., and S. Schillizi. “Poverty and Vulnerability in the Punjab, Pakistan: A Multilevel Analysis.” Journal of Asian Economics 44(2016):57-72. [Link]

Food production is inherently a risky business and primary producers operate in an increasing competitive environment.  Profitability and profitability at the farm level impacts the rural economy and general welfare of rural dwellers. Understanding the main drivers of farm performance is essential in designing effective policies to sustain the rural economy.

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The focus of this research theme is to use economic concepts and tools to benchmark the performance of farms and contribute in the design of policies and interventions that can facilitate adoption of new technologies, evaluate impact of new technology adoption, improve farm productivity and profitability, and increase farm business competitiveness.

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​Research outputs:

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1. Zhihai, Y., A. Mugera., N. Yin., and Y. Wang. “Soil Conservation Practices and Production Efficiency of Smallholder Farms in Central China.” Environ Dev Sustain (2017) DOI 10.1007/s10668-017-9951-7. [Link]

2. Zhihai, Y., A. Mugera., and F. Zhang. “Investigating Yield Variability and Inefficiency in Rice Production: A Case Study in Central China.” Sustainability 8(2016):789. [Link]

3. Watto, M.A., A. Mugera., R. Kingwell, M.M, Saqab. “Re-thinking the unimpeded tube-well growth under the depleting groundwater resources in the Punjab, Pakistan.” Hydrogeology Journal (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-018-1771-9​

4. Yigezu, A.Y., A. Mugera., T. El-Shater., A. Aw-Hassan., C. Piggin., A. Haddad., Y. Khalil., and S.  Loss. “Enhancing adoption of agricultural technologies requiring high initial investment among smallholders.” Technological Forecasting and Social Change 134(2018): 199-206.

5. Mugera, A., M. Langemeier., and A. Ojede. “Do Productivity and Relative Price Changes Contribute to Profitability Change? Evidence from a Sample of Kansas Farms.” American Journal of Agricultural Economics 94(2016):1210-1229. [Link]

6. El-Shater,T., Y. Yigezu., A. Mugera., C. Piggin., A. Haddad., Y. Khalil., S. Loss and A. A. Hassan.  Does Zero Tillage improve the Livelihoods of Small and Medium Holder Cropping Farmers in the Temperate Developing World?  Journal of Agricultural Economics 67(2016):154-172. [Link]​

7. Mugera, A., M, Langemeier, and A. M. Featherstone. “Labor Productivity Growth in the Kansas Farm Sector: A Tripartite Decomposition using Non-Parametric Approach.” Agriculture & Resource Economics Review, 41(2012):298-312. [Link]

8. Mugera, A., M.R. Langemeier., and A.M. Featherstone. Labor Productivity Convergence in the Kansas Farm Sector: A Three-stage Procedure using Data Envelopment Analysis and Semiparametric Regression Analysis. Journal of Productivity Analysis, 38(2012):67-79. [Link] 

9. Mugera, A., and M.R. Langemeier. “Does Farm Size and Specialization Matter for Productive Efficiency? Results from Kansas.” Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, 43(2011):1-14.[Link]

The focus of this research theme is to address managerial and policy related challenges faced by agribusiness firms along the entire food value chain. Past studies have investigated issues related to strategic labor management on dairy and horticultural farms in Michigan; issues related to deregulation of the wheat industry in Australia, and issues related to consumer preferences for local food attributes and animal welfare.

There are currently two ongoing research projects. The first project is investigating the implementation of food safety standards under different governance structures in the shrimp industry in Indonesia.  The second project is investigating relationship between farm capital structure and performance

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Research outputs:

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1. Mugera, A., E. Downsborough., and M. Burton. “Consumer Preference and Willingness to Pay for a Local Label Attribute in Western Australian Fresh and Processed Food Products.” Journal of Food Product Marketing (forthcoming 2016). DOI:10.1080/10454446.2015.1048019. [Link]

2. Mugera, A., R. Curwen., and B. White. “Deregulation of the Australian Wheat Export Market: What Happened to Wheat Prices?” Journal of International Food & Agribusiness Marketing 28(2016):18-34. [Link]

3. Mugera, A. “Sustained Competitive Advantage in Agribusiness: Applying the Resource-based Theory to Human Resources.” International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, 15(2012):27-48. [Link]

4. Mugera, A., and V. Bitsch.  “Managing Labor on Dairy Farms: A Resource-based Perspective with Evidence from Case Studies.” International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, 8(2005): 79-98. [Link]

5. Bitsch, V., G. A. Kassa, S. B. Harsh, and A. Mugera. “Human Resource Management Risks: Sources and Control Strategies Based on Dairy Farmer Focus Groups.” Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, 37(2006):123-136. [Link]

6. Biruma, M.A., A. Mugera, D. W. Norman, and A. M. Featherstone. “The Uganda Rural Farmers Scheme: Women's Accessibility to Agricultural Credit.” Agricultural Finance Review, Special Issue on Microfinance in Developing Economies (Fall 2006): 215-234. [Link]