Examining Poverty Dynamics in Ghana: Evidence from Longitudinal and Repeated Cross-Sectional Data

Dede Woade Gafa, Louis Sitsofe Hodey, Bernardin Senadza

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

This article examines poverty dynamics in Ghana using the Ghana Socioeconomic Panel Surveys and a synthetic panel based on the Ghana Living Standards Surveys. It provides insight into the extent of poverty mobility and persistence in Ghana, and the factors that explain poverty transitions. The results show that upward mobility has been a key feature of Ghana’s poverty transitions between 2006 and 2019. However, there are still high probabilities of poverty persistence and downward mobility among initially poor and non-poor households, respectively. Furthermore, notable heterogeneities exist in poverty transitions across socioeconomic groups. Poverty is more chronic in rural areas and the northern parts of Ghana compared with urban and southern regions, respectively, and among households headed by persons from opportunity-deprived backgrounds. Other characteristics such as the number of dependants, sex, occupation and level of education of the household head are important correlates of poverty persistence and downward mobility in Ghana. Hence, addressing chronic poverty requires targeted policies that foster more inclusive and sustainable growth in rural areas and northern parts of Ghana, and improved access to opportunities for people from disadvantaged backgrounds, the unemployed, and those in vulnerable employment.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)i136-i157
JournalJournal of African Economies
Volume33
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2024

Keywords

  • Africa
  • poverty dynamics
  • synthetic panel

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Examining Poverty Dynamics in Ghana: Evidence from Longitudinal and Repeated Cross-Sectional Data'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this