The Precarious Financial Lives of College Students in Sub-Saharan Africa. Working Paper 34989
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| Title: | The Precarious Financial Lives of College Students in Sub-Saharan Africa. Working Paper 34989 |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Natalie Bau, Corinne Low, Simona Simona, Bryce Steinberg, National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) |
| Source: | National Bureau of Economic Research. 2026. |
| Availability: | National Bureau of Economic Research. 1050 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138-5398. Tel: 617-588-0343; Web site: http://www.nber.org |
| Peer Reviewed: | N |
| Publication Date: | 2026 |
| Sponsoring Agency: | National Science Foundation (NSF), Division of Social and Economic Sciences (SES) International Growth Centre (IGC) |
| Contract Number: | 2343873 |
| Document Type: | Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education |
| Descriptors: | College Students, Foreign Countries, Financial Problems, Postsecondary Education, Hunger, Food, Universities, Student Costs, Urban Areas, Rural Areas, College Housing, Equal Education, Academic Achievement, Outcomes of Education |
| Geographic Terms: | Zambia |
| Abstract: | Investment in tertiary education in Africa, unlike richer settings, is often portrayed as inequitable and inefficient. Yet, though Africa will produce much of the world's future workforce, there is little information on college students' financial constraints. Novel data from a Zambian flagship university show that students are highly financially vulnerable and food insecure, on par with the "ultra-poor.'' Because universities are typically urban, cash poor rural students struggle with high urban costs of living. Being allocated on-campus housing leads to less financial vulnerability and better academic outcomes. Financially supporting African university students could promote both equity and efficiency. [Funding was provided for this report from the J-Pal Gender and Economic Agency Initiative, and CEGA.] |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Access URL: | https://www.nber.org/papers/w34989 |
| Accession Number: | ED679668 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Investment in tertiary education in Africa, unlike richer settings, is often portrayed as inequitable and inefficient. Yet, though Africa will produce much of the world's future workforce, there is little information on college students' financial constraints. Novel data from a Zambian flagship university show that students are highly financially vulnerable and food insecure, on par with the "ultra-poor.'' Because universities are typically urban, cash poor rural students struggle with high urban costs of living. Being allocated on-campus housing leads to less financial vulnerability and better academic outcomes. Financially supporting African university students could promote both equity and efficiency. [Funding was provided for this report from the J-Pal Gender and Economic Agency Initiative, and CEGA.] |
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