Safety Net Perception and its Effects on Household Investment in Developing Countries: Chemical Fertilizer Input by Cambodian Farmers

Farmers in developing countries are reluctant to make investments for fear of failure and the economic distress resulting from this, but the perception of protection by a safety net may induce farmers to invest by reducing that fear. Using Cambodian farm household data, this paper examines factors affecting the perception of protection by a safety net and then assesses the effect of this perception on farmers' investment. For empirical analyses, perceived credit availability from relatives represents this perceived safety net; and chemical fertilizer input signifies the investment size. The results of the econometric analysis demonstrate that farm households with higher economic status, who are able to repay a loan or favour, are more likely to perceive such a safety net. It is also shown that the safety net perception positively affects chemical fertilizer input, implying that farmers accept risk when they perceive a safety net. These findings suggest that it is not only a lack of capital that deters poor households from investment, but also the perceived lack of a safety net.