Mapping out multiples dimensions of well being by ethnicity in rural Cameroon

Hans Tino Mpenya Ayamena, Université de Yaoundé II
Francis Menjo Baye, Université de Yaoundé II
Boniface Ngah Epo, Université de Yaoundé II

This work compares physical, human, financial and social assets endowment in 2001 and 2007 by ethnic groups in Cameroon. To do this, ethnic groups were reconstituted using the second and third Cameroon household’s surveys; indicators of asset endowment were constructed using the polychoric principal component analysis; and stochastic dominance tests used to effectuate comparisons. Results indicate that: (1) overall, all ethnic groups experienced a deterioration in their asset endowment between 2001 and 2007; (2) the Bantus of forest recorded the smallest decline; (3) the Bantus of coast seem better endowed by assets than others groups, followed respectively by the semi-Bantus, Bantus of forest and peulhs and associated ethnic. These results suggest that irrespective of ethnicity, assets endowments of all groups should encourage for the poorest groups.