Urban Proximity and Spatial Pattern of Rural Poverty and Livelihoods in Zimbabwe (English)

This paper analyses the spatial effects of urban proximity in terms of distance on the patterns of poverty and livelihoods in the context of rural Zimbabwe. We find that that poverty prevalence rate increased with distance from urban center, thus, higher poverty rates were found for increased incremental distances from urban agglomerations. Other poverty indicators such as access to basic services (electricity, sanitation facilities and improved water) and education exhibit a negative relationship. We also found that, in urban surroundings, rural areas have diversified economic activities or livelihoods. Regarding formal employment, a negative relationship exists between driving distance to urban centers and formal occupation. These findings suggest that urban centers are crucial for poverty reduction and improvement in rural livelihoods.