Social capital, gender-based resilience, and well-being among urban and rural households in Togo

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of social capital (SC) on household resilience and well-being in Togo, considering gender and location differences. Using data from the 2017 Regional Integrated Survey on Employment and the Informal Sector, three complementary econometric methods were applied, including propensity score matching, endogenous switching regression, and instrumental variable quantile regressions. The results show that access to SC improves household well-being by strengthening resilience, although this effect varies by gender and location. SC benefits men in rural areas but has less impact on women. Public policies should promote civic engagement to maximize the positive effects of SC.