A. S. Oberai

Migration Surveys in Low Income Countries (1984) is an attempt to encourage the collection of analytically appropriate data that can be used to help in the design of migration-related policies. It looks at the theoretical perspectives that have been used in the study of migration phenomena, and brings out implications for data collections. It discusses issues of primary concern in the design of migration surveys, as well as analytical issues. Social and demographic issues, work activity, income transfers – all are considered in depth.

First published in 1992, Assessing the Demographic Impact of Development Projects based on studies in developing countries focuses on conceptual, methodological and policy issues related to development projects. It considers whether demographic effects can be assessed and why development planners should be interested in such an assessment. A. S. Oberai examines the extent to which economic and social changes generated by specific development interventions have influenced demographic behaviour in a particular context. He suggests how desired effects can be enhanced and undesired effects minimized by policy makers and planners in developing countries in order to deal with problems of population growth and its distribution. The major shortcomings of existing methodologies are identified, and the author indicates the future direction which research might take in order to be more scientifically valid and useful to policy makers. This book is a must read for scholars and researchers of development studies, political economy and labour economy.

First published in 1992, Assessing the Demographic Impact of Development Projects based on studies in developing countries focuses on conceptual, methodological and policy issues related to development projects. It considers whether demographic effects can be assessed and why development planners should be interested in such an assessment. A. S. Oberai examines the extent to which economic and social changes generated by specific development interventions have influenced demographic behaviour in a particular context. He suggests how desired effects can be enhanced and undesired effects minimized by policy makers and planners in developing countries in order to deal with problems of population growth and its distribution. The major shortcomings of existing methodologies are identified, and the author indicates the future direction which research might take in order to be more scientifically valid and useful to policy makers. This book is a must read for scholars and researchers of development studies, political economy and labour economy.

The study deals with problems and policy options facing Third World mega-cities. It examines the major sources of urban population growth and spatial concentration and analyses the conflict between economic efficiency and decentralization. It also assesses the implications of rapid urban population growth for employment generation and poverty alleviation, discusses the relationship between urban poverty and access to housing and basic social services, and examines the problems of resource mobilization to finance urban programmes. The analysis is based on data gathered from several Third-World mega-cities. The study thus provides a comparative analysis of mega-city problems and suggests the direction in which future policies need to be developed to deal more effectively with these problems.