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on Africa |
| By: | Naudé, Wim (RWTH Aachen University) |
| Abstract: | This paper identifies conceptual, methodological, and empirical flaws in the first African Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Index (AEEI) that was launched in 2024. These flaws limit the usefulness of the AEEI. Moreover, given that the both the notions of entrepreneurial ecosystems and composite indices are subject to subjectivity and are ad hoc, use of the AEEI can lead to simplistic policy conclusions; worse, a poorly constructed index can detract, mislead and be manipulated. It is concluded that if scholars are to embark on entrepreneurial ecosystem index building despite the concept lacking sound theoretical and empirical foundations, then it is best not to focus on the cross-country level, but to start at the sub-national level and follow best practice in composite index building. This will have the benefits of at least being more consistent with the ideas of entrepreneurship as being place dependent and that ecosystem measures should be concerned with what entrepreneurs want - and less on existing institutions. |
| Keywords: | entrepreneurship, Africa, entrepreneurial ecosystem, composite indices |
| JEL: | L26 L53 O55 |
| Date: | 2024–06 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp17075&r= |
| By: | Kakpo, Ange T.; Tabe-Ojong, Martin Paul |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics And Policy, Agricultural And Food Policy, Land Economics/Use |
| Date: | 2024 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea22:344076&r= |
| By: | Boutin, Delphine (University of Bordeaux); Petifour, Laurene (Heidelberg University); Allard, Yvonne; Kontoubré, Souleymane (University of Ouagodougou); Ridde, Valéry (CEPED) |
| Abstract: | Offering health coverage to informal workers and their families is an ongoing and major challenge in most Sub-Saharan countries. As anchoring insurance to employment contracts is not possible and the demand for insurance is too low to deploy voluntarily sustainable schemes, alternative initiatives are needed. Bundling health insurance to microcredit is an option that we evaluate in this paper. We conducted a two-year cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate the impact of a compulsory micro-health insurance scheme integrated into a micro-loan system for informal micro-entrepreneurs in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Our sample comprised 101 microcredit groups of a partner microfinance institution (MFI), among which we surveyed 1200 individuals (mostly female informal workers). The members of the 47 randomly selected treatment groups had to adhere to health insurance to get access to microcredit. In contrast, members of the 54 control groups did not get health insurance. We assessed the impact of subscription to health insurance on financial protection, healthcare utilization, and health out-comes, and estimated both the intention-to-treat effect (ITT) and the local average treatment effect (LATE). We did not identify any selective attrition, therefore there was no rejection of the MFI due to the health insurance product. Our results reveal a significant and positive impact of health insurance on financial protection. Out-of-pocket expenditures are reduced, as are difficulties in paying for healthcare and the adverse effects of healthcare expenses on professional activities. Health insurance encourages respondents to seek care at modern healthcare facilities rather than relying on self-medication and traditional healers. However, we find no significant impact on health outcomes, whether physical or psychological. Compulsory health insurance has the potential to offer financial protection against health risks to MFI members, a population that lacks social protection, without jeopardizing the retention rate of the MFI. It can create incentives for individuals to seek appropriate healthcare when necessary rather than relying on self-medication. However, the potential impacts on health involve indirect and long-term mechanisms, making them challenging to identify. |
| Keywords: | micro health insurance, financial protection, healthcare utilization, Informal sector, Burkina Faso |
| JEL: | I13 I15 O12 G21 O55 |
| Date: | 2024–06 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp17094&r= |
| By: | Boutin, Delphine (University of Bordeaux); Jouvin, Marine (University of Bordeaux); Olié, Louis |
| Abstract: | This study investigates dishonest behavior among cocoa middlemen in Côte d'Ivoire, focusing on the role of observability and financial penalties in deterring such behavior. Using on a modified version of the "die-under-cup task", we examine the cheating behaviors of 151 cocoa middlemen over several interaction rounds. Our findings reveal that cheating is prevalent among cocoa middlemen, with 78% of players cheating at least once during the game. However, we found heterogeneous cheating patterns: 59% of cocoa middlemen consistently cheated when faced with a losing outcome, even when the risk of detection and sanction is high, 22% of them never cheated, and 19% did so occasionally. Key factors influencing cheating include age, religion, and risk attitudes. The study finds that introducing monitoring and sanctions significantly reduces cheating, highlighting the effectiveness of such mechanisms in deterring dishonest behaviors. By shedding light on the prevalence and determinants of cheating among cocoa middlemen, this study contributes to the experimental literature on dishonest behavior and understanding middlemen's role in agricultural value chains. |
| Keywords: | dishonesty, middlemen, agricultural value chain, observability, financial penalties, lab-in-the-field experiment |
| JEL: | C91 C93 D82 D91 |
| Date: | 2024–06 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp17078&r= |