Analysis of Seasonal Time Poverty and Aspirations in the Upper East Region of Ghana

While studies on aspiration formation have progressively gained the interest of development practitioners and policymakers, little is known about the link between seasonal time poverty and aspirations. This study uses primary data on 337 smallholder households in rural northern Ghana to examine the relationship between seasonal time poverty and aspirations about income, assets, child education, and social status from household headship and age perspectives. The results indicate that seasonal time poverty is correlated with higher aspirations of income and assets but a lower social status. The effect is more significant in dry than wet seasons, and more evident in female- and adult-headed households. The findings are robust to alternative estimation methods for addressing endogeneity. Income is identified as the main potential channel through which seasonal time poverty influences aspirations formation and the implications of the findings are discussed.HIGHLIGHTSIn Ghana, seasonal time poverty is positively associated with income and asset aspirations.Seasonal time poverty reduces social status aspiration.The effect of seasonal time poverty on aspiration is higher among women and adults.Programs that promote rural household income must be targeted, pursued, and sustained to improve aspirations.