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Does Ethnicity Matter for Trust? Evidence from Africa

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  • Daniel Zerfu
  • Precious Zikhali
  • Innocent Kabenga

Abstract

This paper proposes that ethnicity coupled with ethnic nepotism may reduce interpersonal generalised trust. We use the 2001 wave of the World Values Survey data for eight African countries to test this claim, and show that while ethnicity and ethnic nepotism are each important in affecting generalised trust levels, their interaction has a self-reinforcing and negative effect on trust levels. The results underscore the importance of institutions in controlling ethnic nepotism and thus partly in mitigating the adverse effects of ethnicity on trust. Copyright 2009 The author 2008. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Centre for the Study of African Economies. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org, Oxford University Press.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel Zerfu & Precious Zikhali & Innocent Kabenga, 2009. "Does Ethnicity Matter for Trust? Evidence from Africa," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 18(1), pages 153-175, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:jafrec:v:18:y:2009:i:1:p:153-175
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/jae/ejn009
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    Cited by:

    1. Emmanuel Eneche Onoja & Ademu Usman Odoma, 2021. "Assessing the Effect of Tax Administration on Smes Tax Compliance Level in Kogi State," European Journal of Economics and Business Studies Articles, Revistia Research and Publishing, vol. 7, July -Dec.
    2. Jay Mitra & Asma Basit, 2021. "Personal networks and growth aspirations: a case study of second-generation, Muslim, female entrepreneurs," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 56(1), pages 121-143, January.
    3. Gao, Xiang & Long, Cheryl Xiaoning, 2014. "Cultural border, administrative border, and regional economic development: Evidence from Chinese cities," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 247-264.
    4. Strupat, Christoph, 2021. "The preserving effect of social protection on social cohesion during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from Kenya," IDOS Discussion Papers 33/2021, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS), revised 2021.
    5. Thomas De HOOP & Luuk Van KEMPEN, 2010. "Trust In Health Providers As A Catalyst For Malaria Prevention: Heterogeneous Impacts Of Health Education In Rural Ghana," The Developing Economies, Institute of Developing Economies, vol. 48(3), pages 376-404, September.
    6. Cristiana Montibeller Schroeder, 2020. "Human Rights and Social Work in the Brazilian Context: Diversified Language Games," European Journal of Social Sciences Articles, Revistia Research and Publishing, vol. 3, January -.
    7. Juliet Elu & Gregory Price, 2013. "Ethnicity as a Barrier to Childhood and Adolescent Health Capital in Tanzania: Evidence from the Wage-Height Relationship," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 25(1), pages 1-13.
    8. Francesco Burchi & Markus Loewe & Daniele Malerba & Julia Leininger, 2022. "Disentangling the Relationship Between Social Protection and Social Cohesion: Introduction to the Special Issue," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 34(3), pages 1195-1215, June.
    9. Prosper F. Bangwayo‐Skeete & Precious Zikhali, 2011. "Social tolerance for human diversity in Sub‐Saharan Africa," International Journal of Social Economics, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 38(6), pages 516-536, May.
    10. Francesco Burchi & Armin von Schiller & Christoph Strupat, 2020. "Social protection and revenue collection: How they can jointly contribute to strengthening social cohesion," International Social Security Review, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 73(3), pages 13-32, July.
    11. Christoph Strupat, 2022. "Social Protection and Social Cohesion in Times of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from Kenya," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 34(3), pages 1320-1357, June.

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