Religious orientation and poverty in Ghana: associations and explanations

Abraham Gyamfi Ababio (), Anthony Osei-Fosu () and Emmanuel Buabeng ()
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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

Journal of Social and Economic Development, 2021, vol. 23, issue 2, No 9, 377-396

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: Poverty; Intrinsic religious orientation; Urban residence; Saving (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I32 Z12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1007/s40847-021-00166-w

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