Widowhood and asset inheritance in sub-Saharan Africa: Empirical evidence from 15 countries

Widows in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA) are perceived to face discrimination in asset inheritance, leading to poverty for themselves and their children. However, large‐sample empirical research supporting this claim is scarce. This article explores asset inheritance among widows using two data sources: (...

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Autor principal: Peterman, Amber
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Wiley 2012
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/153185
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author Peterman, Amber
author_browse Peterman, Amber
author_facet Peterman, Amber
author_sort Peterman, Amber
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Widows in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA) are perceived to face discrimination in asset inheritance, leading to poverty for themselves and their children. However, large‐sample empirical research supporting this claim is scarce. This article explores asset inheritance among widows using two data sources: (i) nationally representative demographic and health survey (DHS) data from 15 SSA countries, and (ii) a 13‐year longitudinal panel from the Kagera region in north‐west Tanzania. Results indicate that, across the 15 DHS countries, less than half of widows report inheriting any assets; the proportion reporting inheriting the majority of assets is lower. Findings from Kagera indicate that the value of inheritance is significant in determining changes in long‐term household welfare.
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spelling CGSpace1531852024-11-15T08:53:04Z Widowhood and asset inheritance in sub-Saharan Africa: Empirical evidence from 15 countries Peterman, Amber assets inheritance poverty households Widows in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA) are perceived to face discrimination in asset inheritance, leading to poverty for themselves and their children. However, large‐sample empirical research supporting this claim is scarce. This article explores asset inheritance among widows using two data sources: (i) nationally representative demographic and health survey (DHS) data from 15 SSA countries, and (ii) a 13‐year longitudinal panel from the Kagera region in north‐west Tanzania. Results indicate that, across the 15 DHS countries, less than half of widows report inheriting any assets; the proportion reporting inheriting the majority of assets is lower. Findings from Kagera indicate that the value of inheritance is significant in determining changes in long‐term household welfare. 2012-09 2024-10-01T13:55:45Z 2024-10-01T13:55:45Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/153185 en Limited Access Wiley Peterman, Amber 2012. Widowhood and asset inheritance in sub-Saharan Africa: Empirical evidence from 15 countries. Development Policy Review 30(5): 543-571. Special issue on Inheritance and the intergenerational transmission of poverty
spellingShingle assets
inheritance
poverty
households
Peterman, Amber
Widowhood and asset inheritance in sub-Saharan Africa: Empirical evidence from 15 countries
title Widowhood and asset inheritance in sub-Saharan Africa: Empirical evidence from 15 countries
title_full Widowhood and asset inheritance in sub-Saharan Africa: Empirical evidence from 15 countries
title_fullStr Widowhood and asset inheritance in sub-Saharan Africa: Empirical evidence from 15 countries
title_full_unstemmed Widowhood and asset inheritance in sub-Saharan Africa: Empirical evidence from 15 countries
title_short Widowhood and asset inheritance in sub-Saharan Africa: Empirical evidence from 15 countries
title_sort widowhood and asset inheritance in sub saharan africa empirical evidence from 15 countries
topic assets
inheritance
poverty
households
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/153185
work_keys_str_mv AT petermanamber widowhoodandassetinheritanceinsubsaharanafricaempiricalevidencefrom15countries