Examining poverty dynamics in Ghana: Evidence from longitudinal and repeated cross-sectional data

Examines poverty dynamics in Ghana using socioeconomic surveys.

Abstract

This article examines poverty dynamics in Ghana using the Ghana Socioeconomic Panel Surveys (GSPS) and a synthetic panel based on repeated cross-sectional data, the Ghana Living Standard Surveys (GLSS). 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.

This research is part of the Capacity for Economic Research and Policy making in Africa (CERPA) programme.

Citation

Gafa D, Hodey L and Senadza B. ‘Examining poverty dynamics in Ghana: Evidence from longitudinal and repeated cross-sectional data’ 2024

Examining poverty dynamics in Ghana: Evidence from longitudinal and repeated cross-sectional data

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Published 31 March 2024