Optimism and poverty in Africa: adaptation or a means to survival

Democracy, markets and happiness among the poor in Africa

By: Graham C & Hoover M
Published by: Brookings Institution , 2006
Via: Eldis

This report looks at the links between optimism and happiness and other positive traits and behaviours among the poor in Africa. This is done by exploring linkages between labour market outcomes, health, support for markets and democracy. Recent research finds that higher levels of optimism and happiness are associated with other positive traits and behaviours, such as productivity in the labour market, better health, and support for democracy and markets. These findings are compared to new survey data for Africa, in an attempt to understand these relationships in conditions of extreme adversity.

The report finds unusual levels of optimism for children's future outcomes among the poorest in Africa. This is the opposite of what is found in other regions, where such optimism is correlated with income and education. The report also finds the poor's optimism is positively correlated with preference for democracy but not with preference for markets. The authors suggest that attitudinal traits may be more important in respondents' assessments of democracy as a system, while economic outcomes seem to be more important in respondents' assessments of the market in a region where its operations are both incomplete and unpredictable.