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Religious orientation and poverty in Ghana: associations and explanations

Author

Listed:
  • Abraham Gyamfi Ababio

    (Valley View University)

  • Anthony Osei-Fosu

    (Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology)

  • Emmanuel Buabeng

    (Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology)

Abstract

The relationship between religious orientation and poverty has not been given adequate attention in the literature. The major objective of this study was to determine the effect of religious orientation on poverty status. We collected data from a representative sample of household heads in Ghana through a multi-stage random sampling. The data was analyzed using logistic and probit models. Instrumental variable estimation and structural equation modeling were used to address reverse causality and assess mediated effect, respectively. The study found that intrinsic religious orientation has a negative effect on poverty, particularly in urban areas. The study also found that the negative relationship between intrinsic religiosity orientation and poverty is partially mediated by the propensity to save. The basic implication of our finding is that personal religiosity/religious commitment needs to be complemented by church programs that take advantage of the rich and diversified religious network that exists in urban areas to facilitate poverty reduction.

Suggested Citation

  • Abraham Gyamfi Ababio & Anthony Osei-Fosu & Emmanuel Buabeng, 2021. "Religious orientation and poverty in Ghana: associations and explanations," Journal of Social and Economic Development, Springer;Institute for Social and Economic Change, vol. 23(2), pages 377-396, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jsecdv:v:23:y:2021:i:2:d:10.1007_s40847-021-00166-w
    DOI: 10.1007/s40847-021-00166-w
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Poverty; Intrinsic religious orientation; Urban residence; Saving;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I32 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Measurement and Analysis of Poverty
    • Z12 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Religion

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