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Non-timber forest incomes and economic welfare in the South-West region of Cameroon: The incidence of rural income inequality

Author

Listed:
  • Etoh-Anzah Peter ANGYIE

    (Department of Economics, Higher Technical Teachers Training College Bambili, University of Bamenda, Cameroon)

  • Njong Mom ALOYSIUS

    (Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences, University of Bamenda, Cameroon)

Abstract

With the aim of answering the question whether or not Non-Timber Forest Products can contribute in reducing rural income inequality in the South-West region of Cameroon, the study used primary data collected from a survey on 408 rural household heads. The Data was collected using a structured questionnaire. We adopted three different methodologies – The Gini Coefficient, The Lorenz curve, and The Income Decomposition by income sources to obtain identical results. The results revealed that incomes from non-timber forest products reduces rural income inequality in the rural parts of the region significantly, and occupy an important position amongst the different income sources which were investigated. We therefore recommend improved value-added for Non-Timber Forest Products through processing. A better management of the forest in general and the forest resources in particular will ensure improved benefits to the community as a whole especially in the areas of total income and income inequality.

Suggested Citation

  • Etoh-Anzah Peter ANGYIE & Njong Mom ALOYSIUS, 2020. "Non-timber forest incomes and economic welfare in the South-West region of Cameroon: The incidence of rural income inequality," Turkish Economic Review, EconSciences Journals, vol. 7(1), pages 40-56, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:cvv:journ2:v:7:y:2020:i:1:p:40-56
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    JEL classification:

    • O11 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Macroeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • E20 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - General (includes Measurement and Data)
    • Q13 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Agricultural Markets and Marketing; Cooperatives; Agribusiness
    • C30 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - General

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