Estimating the spill-over impacts of a clean cooking fuel program: Evidence from Ghana

Transition to cleaner cooking fuels is a key challenge for sustainable development. This study evaluates the spill-over impact of a program that distributes liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders and accessories for free on cooking fuel choice and poverty alleviation in Ghana. We construct a district-level dataset based on the Ghana Living Standards Surveys 6 and 7, collected before and after the program implementation, respectively. Using difference-in-differences combined with matching techniques, we find that the program had no significant spill-over impacts on primary household cooking fuel; LPG use did not increase and firewood use did not decrease among rural households in treated districts. However, there is a possible association between the program and poverty reduction in treated districts, and the likely channel is investments in refill stations. The results suggest that the program should refine its implementation strategy to yield substantial effects on cooking fuel choice. In addition, implementing the program with the right infrastructure in place could increase the benefits associated with it

Natural disasters and economic growth in Africa

The continent of Africa has experienced its fair share of natural disasters historically and in contemporary times. The effect of natural disasters on economic growth has generated useful but inconclusive debates in the literature. Different studies have found positive, negative or no significant effects at all in some cases of disasters on growth. This makes the question of what impacts natural disasters have on an economy’s growth a purely empirical one and more meaningful to be examined on a case by case basis. Using panel data solely for the continent of Africa from 1980-2015, our regression results show a significant negative effect of natural disasters on economic growth, growth in agricultural value-added and growth in industrial value-added. Additionally, our results also show that disaster effect appears and persists in the post-year periods. The negative relationship between economic growth and disasters is also robust to different disaster measures. We recommend the need to invest in the modernization of the agricultural sector in Africa with the goal of withstanding the negative effects of natural disasters

The economic impact of climate change on road infrastructure in sub-Saharan Africa countries: Evidence from Ghana

Climate change scenarios for many Sub-Saharan African countries including Ghana indicate that temperatures will increase while rainfall will either increase or decrease. The potential impact of climate change on economic systems is well-known. However, little has been done to assess its economic impact on road infrastructure. This work assesses the economic impact of climate change on road infrastructure using the stressor-response methodology. Our analysis indicates that it will cumulatively (2020-2100) cost Ghana US$473 million to maintain and repair damages caused to existing roads as a result of climate change (no adapt scenario). However, if the country adapts the designing and construction of new road infrastructure expected to occur over the asset's lifespan (adapt scenario), the total cumulative cost will increase to US$678.47 million. The paper also provides decadal and average annual costs up to the year 2100 for the ten regions through the potential impacts of 54 distinct potential climate scenarios

Determinants of health insurance enrollment and health expenditure in Ghana: An empirical analysis

This paper analyzes the determinants of health insurance enrollment and health expenditure in Ghana using micro data from wave 7 of the Ghana Living Standards Survey (GLSS 7) with emphasis on the role of risk preferences and the availability of health facilities in one’s own community, neither of which has been emphasized in the previous literature on this topic. It is possible to analyze the determinants of health insurance enrollment in Ghana because its public health insurance system (the National Health Insurance Scheme or NHIS) is, in theory, mandatory, but is, in actual practice, voluntary, with only about 40% of the population enrolled in the scheme. Our empirical findings show that risk preferences have a significant impact on health insurance enrollment, with risk averse individuals being significantly more likely than other households to enroll in health insurance, as one would expect. Moreover, our findings also show that very poor households are significantly more likely to enroll in health insurance than other households, perhaps because they are exempt from paying premiums for health insurance. This finding suggests that NHIS is achieving its intended objective of increasing the poor’s access to health care. Finally, our findings also show that the availability of health facilities in one’s own community significantly decreases expenditures on health care, which underscores the importance of ensuring an equitable spatial distribution of health facilities throughout the country

Supply-side factors of LPG adoption and usage frequency in Ghana: Assessing the validity of subjective distance to refill

Despite numerous policy efforts to promote the transition to clean cooking fuels, the use of solid cooking fuel persists in developing countries. The scenario calls for a study on the factors influencing the adoption of clean cooking fuels. Hence, this study investigates the supply-side determinants of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) adoption and usage frequency in Ghana. We conduct a survey among 904 households and 19 LPG refill stations and collect self-reported and geolocational data in the Ga South municipality and Ada West districts of Ghana to compare the validity of the subjective and objective measures of distance to refill stations. We find that the distance to refill stations negatively influences LPG's adoption and usage frequency, and the result is robust across different measures of distance. However, the provision of multiple services at refill stations increases household LPG use. Other key factors influencing usage frequency include policy interventions as well as behavioral and socio-economic characteristics of households. Our results support the validity of subjective estimates by respondents on the distance traveled to access a refill station. These findings have significant policy implications, particularly for developing countries facing challenges in infrastructure for the LPG distribution

Determinants of health insurance enrollment and health expenditure in Ghana: An empirical analysis

This paper analyzes the determinants of health insurance enrollment and health expenditure in Ghana using micro data from wave 7 of the Ghana Living Standards Survey (GLSS 7) with emphasis on the role of risk preferences and the availability of health facilities in one's own community, neither of which has been emphasized in the previous literature on this topic. It is possible to analyze the determinants of health insurance enrollment in Ghana because its public health insurance system (the National Health Insurance Scheme or NHIS) is, in theory, mandatory, but is, in actual practice, voluntary, with only about 40% of the population enrolled in the scheme. Our empirical findings show that risk preferences have a significant impact on health insurance enrollment, with risk averse individuals being significantly more likely than other households to enroll in health insurance, as one would expect. Moreover, our findings also show that very poor households are significantly more likely to enroll in health insurance than other households, perhaps because they are exempt from paying premiums for health insurance. This finding suggests that NHIS is achieving its intended objective of increasing the poor's access to health care. Finally, our findings also show that the availability of health facilities in one's own community significantly decreases expenditures on health care, which underscores the importance of ensuring an equitable spatial distribution of health facilities throughout the country

Is self-employment an antidote to poverty in developing countries? Insights from a cross-sectional study in Ghana

Despite numerous policies implemented in this respect, Ghana still needs to catch up in achieving the Sustainable Development Goal of ending poverty in all forms by 2030. One way to escape poverty for most people is access to a steady flow of sufficient income from employment. However, with limited paid employment opportunities in Ghana, as is the case for other developing countries, the question of engagement in self-employment as a means to escape poverty emerges. This study conducts a thorough empirical analysis to gauge if self-employment could be an effective tool for addressing poverty in Ghana and the types of self-employment that possess the potential as an antidote to poverty in Ghana. The study thus examines the effects of self-employment on poverty and the type(s) of self-employment that is worth pursuing using nationwide cross-sectional survey data. The study with the aid of a linear probability model finds that self-employment has a significant positive relationship with poverty. Self-employed persons are more likely to be poor relative to persons in paid employment. However, non-agriculture self-employment and opportunity entrepreneurs is a viable route out of poverty even for persons with less than desired levels of education and skills. The implications for poverty reduction are discussed

Determinants of health insurance enrollment and health expenditure in Ghana : An empirical analysis

This paper analyzes the determinants of health insurance enrollment and health expenditure in Ghana using micro data from wave 7 of the Ghana Living Standards Survey (GLSS 7) with emphasis on the role of risk preferences and the availability of health facilities in one’s own community, neither of which has been emphasized in the previous literature on this topic. It is possible to analyze the determinants of health insurance enrollment in Ghana because its public health insurance system (the National Health Insurance Scheme or NHIS) is, in theory, mandatory, but is, in actual practice, voluntary, with only about 40% of the population enrolled in the scheme. Our empirical findings show that risk preferences have a significant impact on health insurance enrollment, with risk averse individuals being significantly more likely than other households to enroll in health insurance, as one would expect. Moreover, our findings also show that very poor households are significantly more likely to enroll in health insurance than other households, perhaps because they are exempt from paying premiums for health insurance. This finding suggests that NHIS is achieving its intended objective of increasing the poor’s access to health care. Finally, our findings also show that the availability of health facilities in one’s own community significantly decreases expenditures on health care, which underscores the importance of ensuring an equitable spatial distribution of health facilities throughout the country