INCOME INEQUALITY

This study investigated the poverty status and income inequality among cooperative and non-cooperative cocoa farming households in Edo State, Nigeria. Cocoa production remains a major livelihood activity in rural communities, yet farmers continue to experience persistent poverty due to structural, financial, and agronomic challenges. The study specifically examined the socio-economic characteristics of cocoa farmers, identified services provided by cooperatives, assessed poverty levels using the Foster–Greer–Thorbecke (FGT) poverty indices, analysed determinants of poverty through logistic regression, and identified major constraints affecting cocoa production. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select 106 respondents, consisting of 54 cooperative members and 52 non- members. Primary data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analysed with descriptive statistics, FGT measures, and logistic regression models. Findings revealed that cocoa farming in the study area is dominated by middle- aged and elderly males with moderate levels of education and household sizes. Cooperatives provided key services such as credit, agro-chemicals, improved seedlings, marketing support, and discounted inputs. Surprisingly, poverty incidence was higher among cooperative households (P₀ = 0.407) than among non cooperative households (P₀ = 0.288). Poverty depth and severity followed the same trend, indicating that cooperative members were more deeply affected by poverty

This study examines the impact of macro-economic variables on income inequality in Nigeria, using a multiple regression analysis. The study employs a data set covering the period1980-2020 obtained from the World Bank and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) of Nigeria. Themacroeconomic variables considered include GDP growth rate, interest rate, and exchange rate. The results of the study reveal significant relationships between these macroeconomic variablesand income inequality, as measured by the Gini coefficient. Specifically, the findings indicatethat GDP growth rate and inflation rate have a positive and significant impact onincomeinequality, while unemployment rate has a negative and significant impact. The study alsofindsthat interest rate and exchange rate have a significant impact on income inequality, althoughthedirection of the relationship varies. The study concludes that macroeconomic policies aimed at reducing income inequalityinNigeria should focus on promoting economic growth, controlling inflation, and reducingunemployment. Additionally, the study highlights the need for policymakers to carefullyconsider the potential impact of interest rate and exchange rate policies on income inequality. The findings of this study contribute to the existing literature on the relationship betweenmacroeconomic variables and income inequality, and provide valuable insights for policymakersseeking to reduce income inequality in Nigeria.