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Religious faith and agricultural growth: exploring some correlations in Africa

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  • Nkamleu, Guy Blaise

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between religious beliefs and agricultural growth in Africa. Empirical analyses are undertaken using panel data of a representative sample of 26 countries, covering the period 1970-2000. The countries analyzed were classified into three groups; countries with a majority of Christian believers, those with a majority of Muslims and those where there are more who follow indigenous beliefs. Results generally indicate a non-neutral effect of religious on agricultural growth. The results accord with perspectives in which classic religions influence traits that enhance agricultural performance, particularly through technological progress. The conclusion draws implications from the findings and highlights areas needing further scrutiny.

Suggested Citation

  • Nkamleu, Guy Blaise, 2007. "Religious faith and agricultural growth: exploring some correlations in Africa," MPRA Paper 11131, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 2007.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:11131
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Guy Nkamleu, 2004. "Productivity Growth, Technical Progress and Efficiency Change in African Agriculture," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 16(1), pages 203-222.
    2. Guy Blaise Nkamleu, 2004. "L'échec de la croissance de la productivité agricole en Afrique francophone," Économie rurale, Programme National Persée, vol. 279(1), pages 53-65.
    3. Viveka P. Kudaligama & John F. Yanagida, 2000. "A Comparison of Intercountry Agricultural Production Functions: A Frontier Function Approach," Journal of Economic Development, Chung-Ang Unviersity, Department of Economics, vol. 25(1), pages 57-74, June.
    4. Fulginiti, Lilyan E. & Perrin, Richard K., 1997. "LDC agriculture: Nonparametric Malmquist productivity indexes," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 53(2), pages 373-390, August.
    5. Fulginiti, Lilyan E. & Perrin, Richard K. & Yu, Bingxin, 2004. "Institutions and agricultural productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa," Agricultural Economics, Blackwell, vol. 31(2-3), pages 169-180, December.
    6. Ohlmer, Bo & Olson, Kent & Brehmer, Berndt, 1998. "Understanding farmers' decision making processes and improving managerial assistance," Agricultural Economics, Blackwell, vol. 18(3), pages 273-290, May.
    7. Bo ÖhlméYr & Kent Olson & Berndt Brehmer, 1998. "Understanding farmers' decision making processes and improving managerial assistance," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 18(3), pages 273-290, May.
    8. Joachim Binam Nyemeck & Guy Blaise Nkamleu, 2006. "Potentiel de Productivité et Efficacité Technique du Secteur Agricole en Afrique," Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics/Revue canadienne d'agroeconomie, Canadian Agricultural Economics Society/Societe canadienne d'agroeconomie, vol. 54(3), pages 361-377, September.
    9. Nkamleu, Guy Blaise & Nyemeck, Joachim & Sanogo, Diakalia, 2006. "Metafrontier Analysis of Technology Gap and Productivity Difference in African Agriculture," MPRA Paper 15103, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    10. Mundlak, Yair & Larson, Don & Butzer, Ritz, 1997. "The determinants of agricultural production : a cross-country analysis," Policy Research Working Paper Series 1827, The World Bank.
    11. McCleary, Rachel & Barro, Robert, 2003. "Religion and Economic Growth across Countries," Scholarly Articles 3708464, Harvard University Department of Economics.
    12. D.S. Prasada Rao & Christopher J. O'Donnell & George E. Battese, 2003. "Metafrontier Functions for the Study of Inter-regional Productivity Differences," CEPA Working Papers Series WP012003, School of Economics, University of Queensland, Australia.
    13. Robert J. Barro & Rachel McCleary, 2003. "Religion and Economic Growth," NBER Working Papers 9682, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    14. Nuthall, P. L., 2001. "Managerial ability -- a review of its basis and potential improvement using psychological concepts," Agricultural Economics, Blackwell, vol. 24(3), pages 247-262, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yonas Jagisso & Jens Aune & Ayana Angassa, 2019. "Unlocking the Agricultural Potential of Manure in Agropastoral Systems: Traditional Beliefs Hindering Its Use in Southern Ethiopia," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-17, March.
    2. Yu, Bingxin & Guo, Zhe, 2015. "Measurement of agricultural productivity in Africa south of Sahara: A spatial typology application:," IFPRI discussion papers 1410, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Religion faiths; Agricultural growth; Agricultural productivity; Efficiency; Technology; Africa;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O47 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Empirical Studies of Economic Growth; Aggregate Productivity; Cross-Country Output Convergence
    • Z12 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Religion

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