Thesis (Ph.D.)--Virginia Commonwealth University, 2009. / Prepared for: Dept. of Educational Studies. Title from title-page of electronic thesis. Bibliography: leaves 114-128.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2005. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 98-100). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.

Thesis (M. Arch.)--Montana State University--Bozeman, 2007. / Typescript. Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Ralph Johnson. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 65-68).

Thesis (M.Sc.)(Town Planning)--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Includes summary. Includes bibliographical references. Available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.

Microfinance has become one of the most promising tools for development and poverty alleviation over the past two decades. Millions of borrowers around the globe have utilized microcredit to start or expand their small businesses and raise their household income. One poverty-induced problem microfinance could potentially alleviate is child labor. Despite international legislation prohibiting it, child labor continues to deprive millions of children of their right to education. Without education, there is little hope for a country to increase productivity and wealth in the future. A number of scholars have highlighted a negative correlation between credit rationing and child labor. However, there are no studies that examine whether or not children are less likely to work in households that participate in microfinance programs. In some circumstances, microcredit may increase household income and induce parents to withdraw their children from work while in others, raising the household income level may lead children to work more. In low-income countries with numerous microfinance institutions, many children work despite their parents’ access to credit. In order to examine this paradoxical phenomenon, this thesis presents a number of econometric models which analyze both child labor and credit at the household level. Though these models are vital in explaining the relevant trends, a purely economic analysis fails to capture the political and cultural factors that also engender child labor. To illustrate this complex relationship between economics and mores, this thesis highlights the impact of microfinance on child labor in Bangladesh. Bangladesh is an ideal country for this study because microfinance and child labor are both endemic. Finally, conclusions drawn from this analysis inform policy recommendations to amplify the effectiveness of microfinance on diminishing child labor.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2008. / Title from title screen (site viewed Feb. 17, 2009). PDF text: vi, 199 p. : ill. ; 6 Mb. UMI publication number: AAT 3325855. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in microfilm and microfiche formats.

abstract: Welfare recipients must engage in a specified number of hours of work-based activities. Work-based activities include providing childcare for others, enrolling to obtain a GED, participating in job clubs, and working for pay. Welfare recipients may choose to get a GED or participate in job clubs to improve their chances of finding employment. As some states require participation in job clubs to receive welfare benefits, this study examined the likelihood of job club participation by low-income females in states where job club participation is optional, not mandatory. Using data from a sample of 3,642 low-income mothers participating in the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP), I explored the relationship between educational attainment and the probability of attending job club or searches in the past month. Sociodemographic and state-level characteristics were used to control for other factors in logistic regression models. Results show that low-income women with higher educational attainment were more likely to attend a job club. Other significant factors were marital status, metropolitan residence, number of children, number of family members, and state poverty rate. Policy implications suggest that attendees already have the necessary skills to obtain a job and time limits and enrollment caps may hinder the changes of the targeted population. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.A. Sociology 2011

This thesis readdresses the notion 'Tong Fang' through the lens of supply- side perspective. As a conceptually 'new' object which has raised widespread concerns since the early 2010s, Tong Fang has only been narrowly examined as the mainstream discussions predominantly confine their very concerns to simply the relationship between the material housing structure and the relevant dwellers. The wider socio-political implications are ignored as the social relations, forces and processes that are indispensable in comprehending the existence of Tong Fang are utterly unaddressed. In particular, the underlying reasons of why such housing structure, represented by its tininess, excessive rental charge and other infer ior environment qualities, could be rampantly produced in Hong Kong is still unsatisfactorily addressed. To explore these overlooked aspects, this study alternatively analyses the production of Tong Fang in Hong Kong and essentially articulates the spatial form to the corresponding processes. Harvey's theory 'Class Monopoly Rent' is employed as the major conceptual tool to analyze the contemporary production of Tong Fang in which the lucrative profitability, resulted from the circumstance which Tong Fang has been constituted as almost the only private affordable dwelling in the housing market structure in recent decades, appears to be the fundamental drive. Through viewing how the potential of CMR has been generated and how it has been appropriated through Tong Fang construction, the necessitated processes and relations are able to be disclosed. Moreover, Harvey's another contribution 'Relational Space' is also invoked to substantiate the exploration of the concrete social processes and relations lying behind Tong Fang as spatial products. All in all, by scrutinizing the production of Tong Fang in Hong Kong, this thesis is expected to enrich our understanding to this contemporary urban blight.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, previously ‘food stamps’), is the nation’s largest federal entitlement nutritional assistance program which assists individuals and households living below the federal poverty level in order to reduce the amount of money they spend on food. With the conversion of food stamps coupons to Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT), vendors at farmers markets are unable to accept SNAP benefits due to lack of necessary technology adoption. The number of farmers markets has increased 39 percent since 2010 yet only 21 percent of the nation’s farmers markets are equipped to accept EBT (USDA AMS, 2015a). The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to apply the theory of Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) to explain EBT technology adoption at mid-west farmers markets (Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin). This study intended to identify the socio-demographic characteristics and levels of communication of farmers market managers, market compatibilities, and perceived EBT attributes that might influence EBT adoption at farmers markets. A survey was administered electronically to market managers of three mid-west states to collect the necessary information to answer the research objectives. A total of 181 managers completed the survey. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify effects of several variables on EBT adoption. Analysis of Variance and Chi-square test were utilized to compare the states and adopter groups. Results of logistic regression showed significant effects of specific variables on EBT adoption. Market managers’ level of communication (Farmers Market Association membership and having partnerships with other organizations), market characteristics (availability of public transports to the market and number of SNAP recipients living in the area), and market managers’ perceptions of EBT attributes (perceived usefulness, ability to try-out, and acceptability) were statistically significant predictors of EBT adoption. For market managers and organizers who are seeking resources and considering EBT adoption assessment of compatibility and level of communication prior to adoption should be considered. In conclusion, the theory of DOI was able to explain effects of market characteristics, market managers’ level of communication, and perceived attributes of EBT on its adoption among the respondents of mid-west farmers markets. Findings of the study can be useful for policymakers in navigating through financial, human, organizational, and political constraints to develop a reachable goal in providing EBT to farmers markets across the nation. Improving the rate of EBT adoption will ultimately have a positive impact on the health of low-income population and sustainability of local agriculture.

Orientador: Doris C. C. K. Kowaltowski / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Civil, Arquitetura e Urbanismo / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-05T13:51:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Watrin_VanessadaRosa_M.pdf: 5056574 bytes, checksum: 9c3e492b4f0de5a03e722ddb3715f321 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2003 / Resumo: A presente pesquisa se concentra na área da habitação de interesse social e busca trazer contribuições para o conforto térmico de moradias autoconstruídas, a partir da experiência da arquitetura tradicional. O objetivo principal é investigar o que é considerado como tradição e qual é a noção de conforto térmico, em relação à moradia, que os autoconstrutores da cidade de Campinas-SP possuem. A arquitetura autoconstruída é uma forma de moradia muito presente na população de baixa renda e já chega a ser o modo predominante de se morar no Brasil, por isso a qualidade de vida que estas moradias proporcionam à população é de extrema importância. Como as condições climáticas locais não são rigorosas, não encontramos nas casas autoconstruídas uma presença sistemática de elementos arquitetônicos tradicionais positivos, demonstrando que a população de autoconstrutores não tem uma preocupação com, ou não prioriza as questões climáticas. Contudo, é de nosso interesse que o conhecimento acumulado pela arquitetura tradicional seja transmitido para os autoconstrutores, já que a arquitetura vernacular tradicional é internacionalmente conhecida por ter uma consciência profunda do clima e por garantir níveis satisfatórios de qualidade ambiental às construções / Abstract: The current research concentrates on low-income housing and tries to contribute knowledge on self-built houses and their thermal comfort, based on traditional architecture of the region. The main goal was to determine what self-builders consider to be tradition; how they relate this concept to house building and whether traditional methods contribute toward comfort. The self-built house can be said to be the most common solution to the housing deficit of lowincome families in Brazil. Results of the study showed that no systematic presence of positive traditional architectural elements was found in self-built houses. The local non-rigorous climate conditions also do not stimulate specific building techniques and designs. The simple self-built house of today was identified as the traditional house, demonstrating a lack of knowledge related to the historical development of the house in Brazil. The study found, on the whole, that good building practice is not transmitted from generation to generation, simple traditional construction techniques persist. For traditional positive elements to regain their place in house design consciousness must be stimulated amongst the self-builder population through technical aid and examples. This quest is based on the accumulated knowledge on traditional architecture and the well-known environmental comfort qualities of vernacular architecture worldwide / Mestrado / Edificações / Mestre em Engenharia Civil