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Survey Trust, Experimental Trust and ROSCA Membership in Rural Cameroon

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  • Alvin Etang
  • David Fielding
  • Stephen Knowles

Abstract

We analyse new experimental and survey data from rural Cameroon, where the level of trust is much higher than is typical of Africa. We find the level of trust exhibited by individuals to be highly correlated with membership of Rotating Saving and Credit Associations. There is also a significant correlation between the degree of trust exhibited in the game and the degree of trust declared in response to survey questions. However, survey responses do not capture all of the systematic variation in experimental behaviour, and understate the importance of ROSCA membership in predicting trust.

Suggested Citation

  • Alvin Etang & David Fielding & Stephen Knowles, 2008. "Survey Trust, Experimental Trust and ROSCA Membership in Rural Cameroon," Global Development Institute Working Paper Series 4408, GDI, The University of Manchester.
    • Handle: RePEc:bwp:bwppap:4408
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    Cited by:

    1. Alvin Etang, 2008. "Modelling the Effects of Socio-Economic Characteristics on Survey Trust: Empirical Evidence from Cameroon," Working Papers 0808, University of Otago, Department of Economics, revised Oct 2008.
    2. Alvin Etang & David Fielding & Stephen Knowles, 2011. "Does trust extend beyond the village? Experimental trust and social distance in Cameroon," Experimental Economics, Springer;Economic Science Association, vol. 14(1), pages 15-35, March.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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