Network effects in household consumption patterns: Evidence from northern Ghana
We study peer effects in consumption patterns and their associated welfare implications among rural farm households in northern Ghana using a panel data set. We construct a social interaction network based on household-specific locations and employ a spatial econometric approach that leverages the s...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | Inglés |
| Published: |
Wiley
2026
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/175445 |
| _version_ | 1855538184178368512 |
|---|---|
| author | Bedi, Shaibu Mellon Kornher, Lukas Kotu, Bekele Hundie Azzarri, Carlo |
| author_browse | Azzarri, Carlo Bedi, Shaibu Mellon Kornher, Lukas Kotu, Bekele Hundie |
| author_facet | Bedi, Shaibu Mellon Kornher, Lukas Kotu, Bekele Hundie Azzarri, Carlo |
| author_sort | Bedi, Shaibu Mellon |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | We study peer effects in consumption patterns and their associated welfare implications among rural farm households in northern Ghana using a panel data set. We construct a social interaction network based on household-specific locations and employ a spatial econometric approach that leverages the structure of the peer networks to identify peer effects. The results indicate that peers' consumption patterns significantly influence individual consumption decisions, with the magnitude of this effect varying across farm households depending on their resource endowments. We also find that information exchange and partial risk-sharing behaviors drive these peer effects. Overall, our findings suggest that government interventions aimed at enhancing household consumption through transfers would be more effective if targeted at households with relatively large peer networks. In addition, anti-poverty and income-improvement programs can leverage peer networks to enhance their overall impact. |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | CGSpace175445 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| publisherStr | Wiley |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1754452026-01-02T15:32:42Z Network effects in household consumption patterns: Evidence from northern Ghana Bedi, Shaibu Mellon Kornher, Lukas Kotu, Bekele Hundie Azzarri, Carlo household consumption networks behaviour We study peer effects in consumption patterns and their associated welfare implications among rural farm households in northern Ghana using a panel data set. We construct a social interaction network based on household-specific locations and employ a spatial econometric approach that leverages the structure of the peer networks to identify peer effects. The results indicate that peers' consumption patterns significantly influence individual consumption decisions, with the magnitude of this effect varying across farm households depending on their resource endowments. We also find that information exchange and partial risk-sharing behaviors drive these peer effects. Overall, our findings suggest that government interventions aimed at enhancing household consumption through transfers would be more effective if targeted at households with relatively large peer networks. In addition, anti-poverty and income-improvement programs can leverage peer networks to enhance their overall impact. 2026 2025-07-02T16:12:28Z 2025-07-02T16:12:28Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/175445 en https://hdl.handle.net/10568/148741 Open Access Wiley Bedi, Shaibu Mellon; Kornher, Lukas; Kotu, Bekele Hundie; and Azzarri, Carlo. Network effects in household consumption patterns: Evidence from northern Ghana. Review of Development Economics. Article in press. First published online June 22, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1111/rode.13266 |
| spellingShingle | household consumption networks behaviour Bedi, Shaibu Mellon Kornher, Lukas Kotu, Bekele Hundie Azzarri, Carlo Network effects in household consumption patterns: Evidence from northern Ghana |
| title | Network effects in household consumption patterns: Evidence from northern Ghana |
| title_full | Network effects in household consumption patterns: Evidence from northern Ghana |
| title_fullStr | Network effects in household consumption patterns: Evidence from northern Ghana |
| title_full_unstemmed | Network effects in household consumption patterns: Evidence from northern Ghana |
| title_short | Network effects in household consumption patterns: Evidence from northern Ghana |
| title_sort | network effects in household consumption patterns evidence from northern ghana |
| topic | household consumption networks behaviour |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/175445 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT bedishaibumellon networkeffectsinhouseholdconsumptionpatternsevidencefromnorthernghana AT kornherlukas networkeffectsinhouseholdconsumptionpatternsevidencefromnorthernghana AT kotubekelehundie networkeffectsinhouseholdconsumptionpatternsevidencefromnorthernghana AT azzarricarlo networkeffectsinhouseholdconsumptionpatternsevidencefromnorthernghana |