The paper uses a panel data of 347 households in Egypt to measure changes in household consumption during 1997-99 and to identify causes behind the changes. Per capita consumption has decreased for the households during this time. The decrease has not been dramatic, but it has occured at all...

The authors examine the importance of trust in the decision to join groups, the subsquent ability of groups to generate trust and the effect of group membership and trust on a measure of well-being, per capita household income. Trust in local agents is an important determinant of membership in...