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Social capital as a double-edged sword for sustained poverty escapes in Ethiopia

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  • Woldehanna, Tassew
  • Tafere, Yisak
  • Yonis, Manex B.

Abstract

What enables social capital to contribute to sustained poverty escapes, and what could compensate for the negative effects of adverse social norms that inhibit pathways out of poverty? This paper seeks to answer these questions in Ethiopia by analysing three rounds of the Ethiopian Socioeconomic Survey (2011/12, 2013/14, and 2015/16) alongside fieldwork in Tigray, Amhara, Oromia, and SNNPR comprising focus group discussions, life history interviews, and key informant interviews. The study finds that families able to sustain poverty escapes typically possess a combination of material wealth, human, political and social capital, all underpinned by an enabling environment marked by factors including an evolving education system and pro-poor political settlement. Better-off households are then able to draw on social capital during shocks that could otherwise precipitate declines in wellbeing.

Suggested Citation

  • Woldehanna, Tassew & Tafere, Yisak & Yonis, Manex B., 2022. "Social capital as a double-edged sword for sustained poverty escapes in Ethiopia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:158:y:2022:i:c:s0305750x22001590
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2022.105969
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