IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/wly/povpop/v12y2020i2p150-174.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Gender Inequality, Governance, and Poverty in Sub‐Saharan Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Migbaru A. Workneh

Abstract

This article uses panel data for 34 countries in Sub‐Saharan Africa to investigate the effects of gender inequality and governance on poverty. It applied a maximum likelihood estimation of random effect models. We found that high gender inequality in Sub‐Saharan Africa contributes to high poverty. The results also show that good governance in Sub‐Saharan Africa may have a decisive positive impact on poverty reduction. The results are robust at country‐ and region‐level data. It is also found that the net effect from the interaction of gender inequality and absence of good governance can have a potential impact on increasing poverty. Hence, to get out of poverty, improving human development and refining frameworks that improve institutional quality through voice and accountability, regulations, and government effectiveness on socioeconomic issues are necessary. The high gender inequality in the region should also be decreased. 本文使用撒哈拉以南非洲34个国家的面板数据, 调查性别不平等与治理对贫困产生的效应。本文应用了随机效应模型的最大似然估计。我们发现, 撒哈拉以南非洲的高度性别不平等造成了高度贫困。研究还表明, 撒哈拉以南非洲的善治可能对减贫具有决定性积极影响。研究结果对国家级和地区级数据而言是稳健的。研究还发现, 性别不平等与善治缺乏之间的相互影响所产生的净效应能潜在地影响贫困增加。因此, 要想以提高人类发展、对通过发言与问责提升制度质量的框架加以改进从而摆脱贫困, 则有必要提出有关社会经济问题的规制和政府效力。也应减少该区域的高度性别不平等。 Este documento utiliza datos de panel de 34 países en África subsahariana para investigar el efecto de la desigualdad de género y la gobernanza en la pobreza. Se aplicó una estimación de máxima verosimilitud de modelos de efectos aleatorios. Descubrimos que la alta desigualdad de género en el África subsahariana contribuye a la alta pobreza. Los resultados también muestran que la buena gobernanza en África Subsahariana puede tener un impacto positivo decisivo en la reducción de la pobreza. Los resultados son sólidos a nivel nacional y regional. También se encuentra que el efecto neto de la interacción de la desigualdad de género y la ausencia de una buena gobernanza puede tener un impacto potencial para aumentar la pobreza. Por lo tanto, para salir de la pobreza mejorando el desarrollo humano, es necesario refinar marcos que mejoren la calidad institucional a través de la voz y la rendición de cuentas, las regulaciones y la efectividad del gobierno en temas socioeconómicos. La alta desigualdad de género en la región también debería reducirse.

Suggested Citation

  • Migbaru A. Workneh, 2020. "Gender Inequality, Governance, and Poverty in Sub‐Saharan Africa," Poverty & Public Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 12(2), pages 150-174, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:povpop:v:12:y:2020:i:2:p:150-174
    DOI: 10.1002/pop4.278
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/pop4.278
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/pop4.278?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Asongu, Simplice A. & Nwachukwu, Jacinta C., 2018. "Educational quality thresholds in the diffusion of knowledge with mobile phones for inclusive human development in sub-Saharan Africa," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 164-172.
    2. Asongu, Simplice A. & Le Roux, Sara & Biekpe, Nicholas, 2017. "Environmental degradation, ICT and inclusive development in Sub-Saharan Africa," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 353-361.
    3. Espinoza-Delgado, José & Klasen, Stephan, 2018. "Gender and multidimensional poverty in Nicaragua: An individual based approach," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 466-491.
    4. Mwiti, Fredah & Goulding, Christina, 2018. "Strategies for community improvement to tackle poverty and gender issues: An ethnography of community based organizations (‘Chamas’) and women's interventions in the Nairobi slums," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 268(3), pages 875-886.
    5. Cooray, Arusha & Potrafke, Niklas, 2011. "Gender inequality in education: Political institutions or culture and religion?," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 27(2), pages 268-280, June.
    6. Andrew MOLD, 2004. "Fdi And Poverty Reduction: A Critical Reappraisal Of The Arguments," Region et Developpement, Region et Developpement, LEAD, Universite du Sud - Toulon Var, vol. 20, pages 91-122.
    7. Compton, Ryan A. & Giedeman, Daniel C. & Hoover, Gary A., 2014. "A distributional analysis of the benefits of economic freedom," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 121-133.
    8. Blessing Mberu, 2006. "Internal migration and household living conditions in Ethiopia," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 14(21), pages 509-540.
    9. Sinha, Aakanksha & McRoy, Ruth G. & Berkman, Barbara & Sutherland, Melissa, 2017. "Drivers of change: Examining the effects of gender equality on child nutrition," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 203-212.
    10. Zhu, Hui & Zhu, Steven X., 2017. "Corporate innovation and economic freedom: Cross-country comparisons," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 50-65.
    11. Merilee S. Grindle, 2011. "Good Enough Governance Revisited," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 29, pages 199-221, January.
    12. Busse, Matthias & Hefeker, Carsten, 2007. "Political risk, institutions and foreign direct investment," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 23(2), pages 397-415, June.
    13. Sassi, Seifallah & Ben Ali, Mohamed Sami, 2017. "Corruption in Africa: What role does ICT diffusion play," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 41(7), pages 662-669.
    14. Eric Neumayer, 2004. "The Impact of Political Violence on Tourism," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 48(2), pages 259-281, April.
    15. Jinjun Xue & Wei Zhong, 2003. "Unemployment, Poverty and Income Disparity in Urban China," Asian Economic Journal, East Asian Economic Association, vol. 17(4), pages 383-405, December.
    16. Jakobsen, Jo, 2010. "Old problems remain, new ones crop up: Political risk in the 21st century," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 53(5), pages 481-490, September.
    17. Alan C. Acock, 2013. "Discovering Structural Equation Modeling Using Stata," Stata Press books, StataCorp LP, number dsemus, March.
    18. Na Hou & Bo Chen, 2013. "Military Expenditure And Economic Growth In Developing Countries: Evidence From System Gmm Estimates," Defence and Peace Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(3), pages 183-193, June.
    19. Anuradha Joshi, 2013. "Do They Work? Assessing the Impact of Transparency and Accountability Initiatives in Service Delivery," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 31, pages 29-48, July.
    20. Alkire, Sabina & Santos, Maria Emma, 2014. "Measuring Acute Poverty in the Developing World: Robustness and Scope of the Multidimensional Poverty Index," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 251-274.
    21. Branisa, Boris & Klasen, Stephan & Ziegler, Maria, 2013. "Gender Inequality in Social Institutions and Gendered Development Outcomes," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 252-268.
    22. Chang, Hsin-Chen & Huang, Bwo-Nung & Yang, Chin Wei, 2011. "Military expenditure and economic growth across different groups: A dynamic panel Granger-causality approach," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 28(6), pages 2416-2423.
    23. Minogue, Martin, 2008. "What connects regulatory governance to poverty?," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 48(2), pages 189-201, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Abdulhakeem, A. Kilishi & Abdulrahman, Idris Abdulganiyu & Oniyide, Gbenga Daniel, 2023. "Governance and Multidimensional Poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa," African Journal of Economic Review, African Journal of Economic Review, vol. 11(5), December.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Espinoza-Delgado, José & Silber, Jacques, 2018. "Multi-dimensional poverty among adults in Central America and gender differences in the three I’s of poverty: Applying inequality sensitive poverty measures with ordinal variables," MPRA Paper 88750, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Janina Isabel Steinert & Lucie Dale Cluver & G. J. Melendez-Torres & Sebastian Vollmer, 2018. "One Size Fits All? The Validity of a Composite Poverty Index Across Urban and Rural Households in South Africa," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 136(1), pages 51-72, February.
    3. E. Desli & A. Gkoulgkoutsika, 2021. "Military spending and economic growth: a panel data investigation," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 54(3), pages 781-806, August.
    4. Shakoor Ahmed & Khorshed Alam & Afzalur Rashid & Jeff Gow, 2020. "Militarisation, Energy Consumption, CO2 Emissions and Economic Growth in Myanmar," Defence and Peace Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(6), pages 615-641, August.
    5. Shobande, Olatunji A. & Asongu, Simplice A., 2022. "The Critical Role of Education and ICT in Promoting Environmental Sustainability in Eastern and Southern Africa: A Panel VAR Approach," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    6. Njangang, Henri & Beleck, Alim & Tadadjeu, Sosson & Kamguia, Brice, 2022. "Do ICTs drive wealth inequality? Evidence from a dynamic panel analysis," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(2).
    7. Henri Njangang & Alim Beleck & Sosson Tadadjeu & Brice Kamguia, 2021. "Do ICTs drive wealth inequality? Evidence from a dynamic panel analysis," Working Papers of the African Governance and Development Institute. 21/057, African Governance and Development Institute..
    8. Potrafke, Niklas & Ursprung, Heinrich W., 2012. "Globalization and gender equality in the course of development," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 28(4), pages 399-413.
    9. Zhang, Shuai & Hou, Xinyu & Ba, Shusong, 2021. "What determines interest rates for bitcoin lending?," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 58(C).
    10. Khaufelo Raymond Lekobane & Keetie Roelen, 2020. "Leaving No One Behind: Multidimensional Child Poverty in Botswana," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 13(6), pages 2003-2030, December.
    11. Tii N. Nchofoung & Simplice A. Asongu & Arsène A. Njamen Kengdo & Elvis D. Achuo, 2022. "Linear and non‐linear effects of infrastructures on inclusive human development in Africa," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 34(1), pages 81-96, March.
    12. Migbaru Alamirew Workneh & Zerayehu Sime Eshete, 2021. "Household Level Non-Monetary Poverty in Ethiopia and its Driving Factors: a Multidimensional Approach with Panel Estimation," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 154(1), pages 145-168, February.
    13. David Adeabah & Charles Andoh & Simplice A. Asongu & Isaac Akomea-Frimpong, 2021. "Elections, Political Connections and Cash Holdings: Evidence from Local Assemblies," Research Africa Network Working Papers 21/004, Research Africa Network (RAN).
    14. Nchofoung, Tii N. & Asongu, Simplice A., 2022. "ICT for sustainable development: Global comparative evidence of globalisation thresholds," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(5).
    15. Davis, Lewis S. & Williamson, Claudia R., 2022. "Individualism and women's economic rights," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 579-597.
    16. Asongu, Simplice A. & Odhiambo, Nicholas M., 2020. "Foreign direct investment, information technology and economic growth dynamics in Sub-Saharan Africa," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(1).
    17. Asamoah, Michael Effah & Alagidede, Imhotep Paul & Adu, Frank, 2021. "Financial development, portfolio investments and the real economy in Africa," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 45(4).
    18. Khaufelo Raymond Lekobane, 2022. "Leaving No One Behind: An Individual-Level Approach to Measuring Multidimensional Poverty in Botswana," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 162(1), pages 179-208, July.
    19. Suwastika Naidu, 2016. "Does Human Development Influence Women’s Labour Force Participation Rate? Evidences from the Fiji Islands," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 127(3), pages 1067-1084, July.
    20. Misganaw Teshager Abeje & Atsushi Tsunekawa & Nigussie Haregeweyn & Zemen Ayalew & Zerihun Nigussie & Daregot Berihun & Enyew Adgo & Asres Elias, 2020. "Multidimensional Poverty and Inequality: Insights from the Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 149(2), pages 585-611, June.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:wly:povpop:v:12:y:2020:i:2:p:150-174. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://doi.org/10.1002/(ISSN)1944-2858 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.