Browsing by Author "Akande, O. Rasheedat"

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    Economics of Begging: A Critical Assessment of Socio-Economic Determinants of Begging in Nigeria
    (Uniilorin Journal of Adminstration and Development, 2025-02-25) Shitu, Abdul Muftah; Biala, Illias Musa; Odedokun, O. Mathew; Olatunji Mansur Shasi; Jimoh, O. Sodiq; Akande, O. Rasheedat; AbdulKareem, K. k. Hauwa
    The prevalence of begging as an informal activity is a social issue that is prominent mostly in urban areas of many developed and developing countries. While it may be viewed as a way of getting a means of livelihood, it is usually associated with underlying socio-economic issues like unemployment and poverty, and sometimes associated with criminal activities and deceit. This is why some developed countries have outrightly banned begging and some developing countries employ different means to control begging activities. However, to truly understand the problem of begging and tackle the issue at the policy level would require the knowledge of what motivates people to beg and how the supply of the activity responds to changes in the income of the participants. This study therefore examines the socio-economic determinants of begging as an informal economic activity and estimates the income elasticity of begging in Kwara State, Nigeria. A stratified random sampling technique was employed to gather data from 153 beggars in the 16 Local Government Areas of the State using questionnaire and face-to-face interview as the research instruments. The study employed the Ordinary Least Squared (OLS) technique to analyze the data collected given the nature of the dependent variable which is continuous and non-negative. The marginal effect was computed to know the partial effect of each of the explanatory variables on the dependent variable - years of begging. Findings reveal that employment status, access to public goods, physical challenges, and hereditary factors are significant determinants affecting the duration of begging. Specifically, stable employment and access to essential public services, like education and healthcare, are associated with a reduced reliance on begging while physical disabilities and a family history of begging are positively associated with prolonged begging, indicating structural barriers that hinder economic self-sufficiency. Further findings indicate a positive income elasticity of begging which implies that increased earnings from begging reinforce this activity, suggesting a cycle of dependency where financial returns motivate individuals to continue begging. The study concludes that begging is a complex socio-economic phenomenon, with individual and systemic factors jointly contributing to its persistence. Policy-wise, it is recommended that policymakers focus on job creation targeting marginalised and vulnerable populations; disability pensions and employment support for the disabled; improved access to public goods such as quality education, healthcare, and infrastructure and commuunity-led initiatives aimed at the social and economic reintegration of beggars.