Incentivising village heads for public goods management: A Field Experiment in Rural Zambia

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K22119
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0107:Economics, business administration, and related fields
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: Miura Ken 京都大学, 農学研究科, 准教授 (00876097)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-09-11 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 伝統的権威 / 民族 / 公共財 / 共同体 / 信頼 / リスク / 開発経済学 / アフリカ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study explores the policy implications of establishing efficient public goods management schemes in rural Africa by investigating the determinants of trust in traditional authorities such as village heads and chiefs. This study finds that trust in traditional authority is higher in (1) areas where there is a high demand for mutual help due to the presence of environmental risks, (2) remote areas where the administrative capacity of the central government is difficult to penetrate, (3) areas where political competition is less intense, and (4) areas composed of a small number of ethnic groups. However, while the survey conducted in Malawi generally shows a high level of trust in traditional authority, we also observe widespread distrust among some residents regarding the distribution of fertilizer subsidy coupons. Thus, a context-specific evaluation is warranted.

Free Research Field

開発経済学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

国家機能が浸透していないアフリカ農村部において、伝統的権威が公共財の供給と管理に果たす役割は大きい。他方で、共同体による運営が機能不全に陥っている事例も散見される。既存研究は公共財供給において、水平方向の住民間の信頼関係の重要性を指摘する。他方で住民と地域リーダーとの間の信頼関係といった垂直方向の社会階層に基づく議論を展開した研究は少ない。伝統的権威への信頼の規定要因を検証した本研究の実証結果は、(1)互助の必要性が薄く、(2)多様な民族が居住する地域では、伝統的権威への信頼は低く彼らを中心とする公共財の供給・管理は困難であることが予想されるため、中央政府による積極的な介入の必要性を示唆する。