ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Do farmer and credit specific characteristics matter in microfinance programmes’ participation? Evidence from smallholder farmers in Ada west and east districts

Purpose – Users of smallholder farmer microfinance are able to make enough returns to repay credits advanced to them. However, they are in dire need of financial capital such that they are inconsiderate of farmer- and credit-specific characteristics when participating in a microfinance programme. This study analyses perceptions of stakeholders regarding select farmer and credit characteristics within the microfinance industry. The study identifies and analyses the factors that influence participation in a microfinance programme by farmers using the logistic regression model. The purpose of this paper is to widen the knowledge base of rural agricultural finance, including factors that influence participation in microfinance intervention(s) thereof. Design/methodology/approach – A total of 104 participants and 120 non-participant farmers in microfinance programmes were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire by applying the multistage sampling technique. The paper applied the logistic regression model in which farmer- and creditspecific characteristics were used to estimate the probabilities of participation. Findings – The logistic regression results showed that distance, interest rate, experience, membership of farmer-based organisation, number of dependants, household, gender and age were statistically significant farmer- and credit-specific characteristics that influence participation in microfinance programmes. Interest rate and distance exact negative significance influence on participation, whereas membership of farmer-based organisations, experience, gender, household head and age influence participation positively. Reduction in the interest rate and expansion of microfinance to very remote areas rather than locations in urban areas are crucial in terms of improving participation. Research limitations/implications – The paper used data from only farmers so there is a limit to which the results can be generalised for all microfinance users. It may be relevant to undertake a study that considers non-farm enterprises. Practical implications – This paper brings to light the need to develop well-structured microfinance facilities that meet the specific needs of the rural poor in transitioning economies while taking into consideration critical factors affecting participation before the establishment of such programmes. Originality/value – This paper provides empirical evidence to show that farmer- and credit-specific characteristics are essential to ensure participation and success of microfinance programmes thereof.

Source: UG
Do farmer-actor interactions in the agricultural innovation system drive technological innovation adoption in Ghana?

The low level of technological innovation adoption among farmers has been a development concern. However, not much attention has been paid to how agricultural innovation system actors contribute to the adoption of technological innovations among farmers. This paper, therefore, analyzed the factors that drive the adoption of technological innovations using the agricultural innovation system concept. The study adopted a mixed-methods approach where qualitative data from focus group discussions was used to triangulate findings obtained from the quantitative data analyzed. A two-period panel data set of 3486 observations of randomly sampled agricultural households across Ghana was analyzed using descriptive statistics and the multinomial logit regression model. Findings showed that farmers with strong ties in the innovation system had a higher probability of adopting multiple sets of innovations, compared to those with weaker linkages. Platforms that encourage actor interactions, such as innovation platforms, should be strengthened to increase the innovative performance of smallholder farmers. This study is one of the few that has quantified the effect the agricultural innovation system has on the adoption of innovations and hence makes a positive contribution to the budding literature regarding the importance of unpacking actor interactions whilst considering a holistic inquiry of the agricultural innovation system.

Source: UG
Do firms manage earnings and avoid tax for corporate social responsibility?

This study examines the relationship between corporate tax avoidance (CTA), earnings management (EM) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) within a context of an emerging economy. The study employs system methods of moments (GMM) and logistic regression to establish whether firms in Ghana manage earnings and avoid tax to finance corporate social responsibility. The results show that almost all the firms sampled have engaged in some management of their earnings and tax during the period. The study also find evidence that an increase in CSR activities is associated with an increase in EM, suggesting that, sampled firms may use CSR as a cover for engaging in opportunistic behaviour such as earnings management. By extension, these results have important policy implications for policy makers in assessing the effectiveness of the tax laws.

Source: UG
Do firms operating in a shared institutional environment have similar sustainability disclosure practices? A comparative analysis of multinational and locally listed firms in Africa

This study compares the quality of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices and reporting of firms operating in Africa listed in Western economies and firms exclusively listed on the African stock exchange, using the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) CSR checklist. Interpretive content analysis was conducted on the website publications and relevant reports of 135 firms listed on African stock exchanges. Non-parametric(Mann-Whitney U and Cohen d test) analyses were applied to check for significant differences between the mean scores of Western listed firms and locally listed firms operating in African countries. The study’s findings indicate (1) a Low CSR disclosure rate and (2) no significant CSR disclosure difference between exclusively African market-listed firms and multinationals. Multinationals do not lead in sustainability reporting. The finding of this study is a proposal for emerging economies to strengthen institutions and make them independent. The findings further encourage regulators and policymakers to ques tion, with utmost importance, why the sophisticated propitious sustainability initiatives and reporting of Western economies are not practised in the developing world. Unlike previous studies, the current research uses Institutional Theory to compare CSR disclosure tendencies of environmentally Sensitive Industries (ESI) in which environmental policies seemingly make sustainability reporting quasi mandator

Source: UG
Do firms operating in a shared institutional environment have similar sustainability disclosure practices? A comparative analysis of multinational and locally listed firms in Africa

This study compares the quality of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices and reporting of firms operating in Africa listed in Western economies and firms exclusively listed on the African stock exchange, using the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) CSR checklist. Interpretive content analysis was conducted on the website publications and relevant reports of 135 firms listed on African stock exchanges. Non-parametric(Mann-Whitney U and Cohen d test) analyses were applied to check for significant differences between the mean scores of Western listed firms and locally listed firms operating in African countries. The study’s findings indicate (1) a Low CSR disclosure rate and (2) no significant CSR disclosure difference between exclusively African market-listed firms and multinationals. Multinationals do not lead in sustainability reporting. The finding of this study is a proposal for emerging economies to strengthen institutions and make them independent. The findings further encourage regulators and policymakers to question, with utmost importance, why the sophisticated propitious sustainability initiatives and reporting of Western economies are not practised in the developing world. Unlike previous studies, the current research uses Institutional Theory to compare CSR disclosure tendencies of environmentally Sensitive Industries (ESI) in which environmental policies seemingly make sustainability reporting quasi-mandatory.

Source: UG
Do Ghanaians Prefer Imported Textiles to Locally Manufactured Ones?

This paper ascertains whether consumers prefer locally made textiles to imported ones or vice versa and what accounts for the choice. The study uses survey data of industry, traders and consumers to explain the issue. The results show that most consumers prefer locally-made to imported ones. More than half of those who prefer locally-made textiles claim local textile products are of better quality. Others claimed they are more affordable and attractive while a few claimed local textiles are cheaper. This appears to contradict the country-of-origin effect and the results of previous studies in Africa and other developing countries. Implications for traders, governments and local manufactures are also discussed. The study provides insights with respect to Ghanaians’ preference of locally-produced textiles to foreign-made ones.

Source: UG
Do high-performance work systems mediate the relationship between HR practices and employee performance in multinational corporations (MNCs) in developing economies?

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the mediating role of job involvement as high-performance work system (HPWS) on the relationship between human resource (HR) practices and employee performance in multinational corporations (MNCs) in developing economies using Ghana as a case study. Design/methodology/approach – Using questionnaires to collect data from 317 employees and ten MNCs in Ghana, structural equation modeling (SEM), multiple regression and bootstrapping analysis were used to analyze the data. Findings – The results showed that an HPWS proxy as job involvement fully mediates the relationship between HR practices and employee performance. The findings also showed that training and development and compensation and reward have a significant and direct positive effect on employee performance. Practical implications – This paper provides a practical guide to management and corporations on the significance of training and compensation on employee performance in MNCs. The study, therefore, recommends managers of firms and corporations to take a serious look at their HR practices and institute an HPWS, which can positively improve both corporate and employee performance. Originality/value – This paper enhances our understanding of micro-level HPWS in the form of job involvement as a positive mediator between training and development and employee performance on the one hand, and between compensation and reward and employee performance on the other hand in work organizations in a less-studied context.

Source: UG
Do Independent Central Banks Exhibit Varied Behaviour in Election and Non-Election Years?: The Case of Fiscal Policy in Africa

The study primarily investigates if the behavior and effectiveness of CBI on fiscal policy varies between non-election and election years. It also examines whether the effectiveness of CBI in improving fiscal performance is enhanced by higher institutional quality. Using recent CBI data f on 48 African countries, 90 other developing countries and 40 developed countries over the period 1970–2012, we apply a two-stage system GMM with Windmeijer small sample robust correction estimator and find that due to the strong incentives of political authorities to influence economic outcomes in election years, CBI has stronger effects on fiscal performance in election years compared to non-election years in developed countries only. However, given higher levels of institutional quality, CBI has stronger effects on fiscal performance in election years compared to non-election years in Africa and other developing countries also.

Source: UG
Do Men also Sell Garden-eggs?’: Paternal Childcare Among Teachers in Accra

Childcare and other household tasks have in many cultures been seen as the domain of women, thus affecting the way both boys and girls are socialized. In Ghana, such role stereotypes are expressed in proverbs and everyday sayings, for instance, “women sell garden-eggs and not gun-powder”, indicating how men and women are constrained by specific norms. So in today’s Ghana, where husbands are not considered to be the sole providers for their families and where many women are educated and in formal, paid employment away from home, and where related female domestic helpers are scarcely available, how are men coping with potential pressures to do domestic work and childcare? – A matter of selling garden-eggs and thus a woman’s domain. This chapter looks at childcare by some male teachers in Accra. The study reported combined survey data, interviews and observations regarding factors linked to fathers’ childcare activities; care for and about not just their own biological children, but also relatives’ children. Thus male teachers are seen not only “selling gun-powder” (by staying within the bounds of a stereotyped caricature of male roles) but also (becoming involved with) “garden-eggs.”

Source: UG
Do men and women estimate property values differently?

Wealth data are typically obtained by asking respondents about the value of their key assets. Yet, what if the answers to valuation questions vary systematically depending on who is interviewed? Using nationally representative data from Ghana and Ecuador and for the state of Karnataka, India, we analyze whether men and women provide different responses to questions about the monetary value of their home. Using a DFL decomposition across the full sample and comparing the responses of husbands and wives in our couple sample, we find that overall, the distribution of monetary values reported by women tends to be narrower than that reported by men. This finding has implications both for data collection efforts and for measures of the gender wealth gap. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd

Source: UG
Do mobile device and mobile app innovations trigger lifestylisations? Insights from consumers in developing countries

Purpose: The exponential growth of smartphones is complemented by an astronomical development of mobile apps that have been changing ways in which humans interact with each other, as well as how brands and customers interact. This study aims to examine the effect of mobile device and mobile app innovations on user lifestyle among consumers from developing countries. Design/methodology/approach: Through a qualitative approach, data was collected via focus group interviews from 32 participants from across 15 developing countries who were largely emerging cosmopolitans. Findings: Using the thematic analysis technique, the study finds that consumer lifestyles, based on consumption and utilisation of mobile devices and mobile apps hinge on either pre-purchase considerations or post-purchase discoveries that stem from a bouquet of hedonic and/or utilitarian motivations. Two consumer categories are identified, with each category exhibiting unique patterns. Originality/value: The empirical findings provide valuable theoretical contributions to new knowledge as well as practical implications for mobile gadget manufacturers and mobile app developers domiciled, or those aiming to establish their presence in developing economies.

Source: UG
Do Organizations Learn When Employees Learn Development and Learning in Organizations

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to conceptualize the link between individual learning and organizational learning and offer guidelines to harness the individual capability of learning for organizational objectives. Design/methodology/approach – This is a conceptual paper using arguments from the theory of meaning structures. Findings – The author shows that, learning, whether organizational or individual, is about the construction and accessibility of meaning, and that such processes thrive in a culture which fosters collaborative team work. Research limitations/implications – The theory presents a perspective of how organizational knowledge exists in a triad – private, accessible and collective – and the interrelationships to create organizational learning. These constructs can form the building blocks for future research. Practical implications – The theory brings organizations closer to prioritizing and evaluating learning processes to ensure that they facilitate the accessibility of knowledge. Social implications – The theory can enable organizations to identify processes which inhibit the accessibility of knowledge and create the environment to promote such. Originality/value – The theory opens a new insight into viewing organizational learning from the perspective of constructing and sharing meaning structures.

Source: UG
Do organizations learn when employees learn: The link between individual and organizational learning

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to conceptualize the link between individual learning and organizational learning and offer guidelines to harness the individual capability of learning for organizational objectives. Design/methodology/approach: This is a conceptual paper using arguments from the theory of meaning structures. Findings: The author shows that, learning, whether organizational or individual, is about the construction and accessibility of meaning, and that such processes thrive in a culture which fosters collaborative team work. Research limitations/implications: The theory presents a perspective of how organizational knowledge exists in a triad - private, accessible and collective - and the interrelationships to create organizational learning. These constructs can form the building blocks for future research. Practical implications: The theory brings organizations closer to prioritizing and evaluating learning processes to ensure that they facilitate the accessibility of knowledge. Social implications: The theory can enable organizations to identify processes which inhibit the accessibility of knowledge and create the environment to promote such. Originality/value: The theory opens a new insight into viewing organizational learning from the perspective of constructing and sharing meaning structures. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

Source: UG
Do Personality and Organizational Politics Predict Workplace Victimization? A Study among Ghanaian Employees

Background: Workplace victimization is considered a major social stressor with significant implications for the wellbeing of employees and organizations. The aim of this study was to examine the influences of employees’ personality traits and organizational politics on workplace victimization among Ghanaian employees. Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, data were collected from 631 employees selected from diverse occupations through convenience sampling. Data collection tools were standardized questionnaires that measured experiences of negative acts at work (victimization), the Big Five personality traits, and organizational politics. Results: The results from hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that among the personality traits neuroticism and conscientiousness had significant, albeit weak relationships with victimization. Organizational politics had a significant positive relationship with workplace victimization beyond employees’ personality. Conclusion: The study demonstrates that compared with personal characteristics such as personality traits, work environment factors such as organizational politics have a stronger influence on the occurrence of workplace victimization.

Source: UG
Do Personality and Organizational Politics Predict Workplace Victimization? A Study among Ghanaian Employees.

Background Workplace victimization is considered a major social stressor with significant implications for the wellbeing of employees and organizations. The aim of this study was to examine the influences of employees' personality traits and organizational politics on workplace victimization among Ghanaian employees. Methods Using a cross-sectional design, data were collected from 631 employees selected from diverse occupations through convenience sampling. Data collection tools were standardized questionnaires that measured experiences of negative acts at work (victimization), the Big Five personality traits, and organizational politics. Results The results from hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that among the personality traits neuroticism and conscientiousness had significant, albeit weak relationships with victimization. Organizational politics had a significant positive relationship with workplace victimization beyond employees' personality. Conclusion The study demonstrates that compared with personal characteristics such as personality traits, work environment factors such as organizational politics have a stronger influence on the occurrence of workplace victimization

Source: UG
Do police experience trauma during routine work? An analysis of work-related potentially traumatic events and expressed trauma in a sample of Ghanaian police officers

Existing research associates police work with stress and mental health challenges due to routine exposure to potentially traumatic incidents. Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are under-represented in this literature. In this study, we explored the relationship between work related potentially traumatic events and expressed trauma symptoms in a sample of 121 Ghanaian police officers. Ninety-seven (97) male and 24 female police officers participated in a semi-structured interview about on-the-job potentially traumatic events and completed a self-report measure of trauma symptoms. Overall, 71.9% of officers were exposed to at least one work-related PTE and 61.2% of officers endorsed at least one trauma. We found that dealing with traffic accidents, assaults and observing autopsy are the top critical incidents. We also found that observing autopsy and officer rank were predictive of expressed trauma. We discuss the findings within the context of a need to examine effects of potentially traumatic events on work and implications for mental health.

Source: UG