Social Norms and Financial Decision-Making in Zambia

To generate insights into the normative environment within which spouses in Eastern Province, Zambia, make decisions about money holding and saving, FSD Zambia with University of Nottingham undertook a two-staged research project over 2019-2020. The following findings were identified:

1. Husbands and wives often sacrifice household-level income in order to maintain individual control over income
2. Handing “spare cash” over to one’s spouse is good, but it is understandable when wives do not do this
3. Saving is good, saving in secret is bad and, for wives, may lead to a backlash
4. : Household unity depends on unity in financial decision making and vice-versa