The effects of household endowments on poverty in Nigeria

Abstract

The contribution of household endowments to poverty in Nigeria has received little attention in the literature despite the fact that both human and physical capital endowments are important determinants of poverty. This paper examines empirically the role of household endowments in determining poverty in Nigeria between 1985 and 1996. Using data from the national consumer surveys of 1985, 1992 and 1996, our results show that household endowments are significant determinants of poverty in Nigeria either among rural or urban households. Out of all these endowments, human capital assets stand as the most important determinants.

African Journal of Economic Policy Vol. 9(2) 2002: 77–102