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Determinants of Empowerment in a Capability Based Poverty Approach: Evidence from The Gambia

Author

Listed:
  • Sofia Karina Trommlerová

    (IHEID Geneva)

  • Stephan Klasen

    (Georg-August University Göttingen)

  • Ortrud Lessmann

    (Helmut Schmidt University Hamburg)

Abstract
Although empowerment is seen as intrinsically important and instrumentally valuable to escape poverty, there is very little research on the empirical drivers of empowerment. Using custom-made household-level information and using advanced econometric techniques that also correct for endogeneity, we examine what empowers individuals in The Gambia to change their own lives and affect changes in their communities. We show that people’s self-reported capabilities are the most important drivers of empowerment. We also show that respondents’ confidence that they will be the most powerful agents in their lives is higher for men, foreigners, people free of health limitations, and younger people.

Suggested Citation

  • Sofia Karina Trommlerová & Stephan Klasen & Ortrud Lessmann, 2013. "Determinants of Empowerment in a Capability Based Poverty Approach: Evidence from The Gambia," Courant Research Centre: Poverty, Equity and Growth - Discussion Papers 147, Courant Research Centre PEG.
    • Handle: RePEc:got:gotcrc:147
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    empowerment; agency; capability approach; The Gambia; correction for endogeneity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I30 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General
    • I32 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Measurement and Analysis of Poverty
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification
    • Z18 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Public Policy

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