Isaac koomson is a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for the Business and Economics of Health (CBEH). He also serves in an adjunct role as a Faculty Director with the Center for Social Development at the Brown School in the Washington University in St. Louis, United States. He is a guest lecturer in Quantitative Research Methods in the University of North Carolina and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the United States.
He holds a PhD degree in Economics (Applied Econometrics) from the University of New England, Australia; Master of Philosophy degree in Economics from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana; and a BSc (Hons) degree in Economics (Social Sciences) from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. Apart from research, he has more than 10 years of teaching experience at the University of New England, Australia, the University of Cape Coast, Ghana, and the University of Professional Studies, Accra, Ghana.
Dr Koomson’s current research is in the areas of health and development economics and cuts across topics such as child health (i.e., malnutrition), healthcare utilisation, out-of-pocket health expenditure, mental health, disease outbreak resilience, poverty, vulnerability, food insecurity, and energy poverty. He has worked on projects as a consultant to organisations such as the World Bank, the United Nations, and other policy-oriented research institutes.
His experience in producing translational research outputs. He was part of a three-member research team on the UNE/BUPA Health System Project which assessed students' access to the Australian Health System. He also led a team of researchers from the United States to introduce a novel multidimensional disease outbreak resilience index (DORI).
Journal Article: Energy poverty and mental distress in South Africa: Assessing linkages and potential pathways
Koomson, Isaac (2024). Energy poverty and mental distress in South Africa: Assessing linkages and potential pathways. World Development Sustainability, 4 100116, 100116. doi: 10.1016/j.wds.2023.100116
Journal Article: Entrepreneurship and subjective wellbeing in China: Exploring linkages and potential channels
Koomson, Isaac, Zhang, Quanda and Prakash, Kushneel (2024). Entrepreneurship and subjective wellbeing in China: Exploring linkages and potential channels. Journal of Business Venturing Insights, 21 e00449, e00449. doi: 10.1016/j.jbvi.2024.e00449
Journal Article: Informal care and financial stress: Longitudinal evidence from Australia
Koomson, Isaac, Lenzen, Sabrina and Afoakwah, Clifford (2024). Informal care and financial stress: Longitudinal evidence from Australia. Stress and Health, e3393. doi: 10.1002/smi.3393
(2023–2024) Global Snakebite Initiative USA Foundation
State fragility and resilience in sub-Saharan Africa: indicators and interventions
Lahai, John Idriss and Koomson, Isaac (2020). State fragility and resilience in sub-Saharan Africa: indicators and interventions. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9780367853846
Financial capability and asset building: innovations in social protection and development
Ansong, David, Okumu, Moses, Huang, Jin, Sun, Sicong, Huseynli, Aytakin, Koomson, Isaac, Chowa, Gina, Ssewamala, Fred, S. Sherraden, Margaret and Sherraden, Michael (2023). Financial capability and asset building: innovations in social protection and development. Handbook on Social Protection and Social Development in the Global South. (pp. 308-330) edited by Leila Patel, Sophie Plagerson and Isaac Chinyoka. Cheltenham, United Kingdom: Edward Elgar Publishing. doi: 10.4337/9781800378421.00033
Adoption of mobile money for healthcare utilization and spending in rural Ghana
Bukari, Chei and Koomson, Isaac (2020). Adoption of mobile money for healthcare utilization and spending in rural Ghana. Moving from the Millennium to the Sustainable Development Goals: lessons and recommendations. (pp. 37-60) edited by Sefa Awaworyi Churchill. Singapore: Palgrave Macmillan. doi: 10.1007/978-981-15-1556-9_3
Analysis of Crop Yield Volatility Among Smallholder Farmers in Ghana
Peprah, James Atta, Afoakwah, Clifford and Koomson, Isaac (2020). Analysis of Crop Yield Volatility Among Smallholder Farmers in Ghana. Advances in African Economic, Social and Political Development. (pp. 69-89) Cham: Springer International Publishing. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-44180-7_4
Financial Inclusion and Growth of Non-farm Enterprises in Ghana
Koomson, Isaac and Ibrahim, Muazu (2018). Financial Inclusion and Growth of Non-farm Enterprises in Ghana. Financing Sustainable Development in Africa. (pp. 369-396) Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-78843-2_14
Economic drivers of domestic violence among women: a case study of Ghana
Peprah, James Atta and Koomson, Isaac (2017). Economic drivers of domestic violence among women: a case study of Ghana. Violence and society: breakthroughs in research and practice. (pp. 222-240) Hershey, PA, United States: IGI Global. doi: 10.4018/978-1-5225-0988-2.ch013
Economic drivers of domestic violence among women: A case study of Ghana
Peprah, James Atta and Koomson, Isaac (2013). Economic drivers of domestic violence among women: A case study of Ghana. Globalization and Governance in the International Political Economy. (pp. 166-183) IGI Global. doi: 10.4018/978-1-4666-4639-1.ch013
Energy poverty and mental distress in South Africa: Assessing linkages and potential pathways
Koomson, Isaac (2024). Energy poverty and mental distress in South Africa: Assessing linkages and potential pathways. World Development Sustainability, 4 100116, 100116. doi: 10.1016/j.wds.2023.100116
Entrepreneurship and subjective wellbeing in China: Exploring linkages and potential channels
Koomson, Isaac, Zhang, Quanda and Prakash, Kushneel (2024). Entrepreneurship and subjective wellbeing in China: Exploring linkages and potential channels. Journal of Business Venturing Insights, 21 e00449, e00449. doi: 10.1016/j.jbvi.2024.e00449
Informal care and financial stress: Longitudinal evidence from Australia
Koomson, Isaac, Lenzen, Sabrina and Afoakwah, Clifford (2024). Informal care and financial stress: Longitudinal evidence from Australia. Stress and Health, e3393. doi: 10.1002/smi.3393
Borrower discouragement and multidimensional child deprivation in Ghana
Kofinti, Raymond Elikplim, Koomson, Isaac and Peprah, James Atta (2024). Borrower discouragement and multidimensional child deprivation in Ghana. The Journal of Economic Inequality, 22 (1), 49-67. doi: 10.1007/s10888-023-09578-6
Financial inclusion and multidimensional child poverty
Koomson, Isaac, Kofinti, Raymond Elikplim and Laryea, Esther (2024). Financial inclusion and multidimensional child poverty. Review of Economics of the Household, 22 (1), 237-260. doi: 10.1007/s11150-022-09641-7
The role of teacher support in students' academic performance in low- and high-stakes assessments
Ansong, David, Okumu, Moses, Amoako, Emmanuel Owusu, Appiah-Kubi, Jamal, Ampomah, Abena Oforiwaa, Koomson, Isaac and Hamilton, Eric (2024). The role of teacher support in students' academic performance in low- and high-stakes assessments. Learning and Individual Differences, 109 102396, 102396. doi: 10.1016/j.lindif.2023.102396
Non-farm entrepreneurship, caste, and energy poverty in rural India
Koomson, Isaac, Orkoh, Emmanuel and Ahmad, Shabbir (2023). Non-farm entrepreneurship, caste, and energy poverty in rural India. Energy Economics, 127 (Part A) 107118, 107118. doi: 10.1016/j.eneco.2023.107118
Trust in banks, financial inclusion and the mediating role of borrower discouragement
Koomson, Isaac, Koomson, Paul and Abdul-Mumuni, Abdallah (2023). Trust in banks, financial inclusion and the mediating role of borrower discouragement. International Review of Economics and Finance, 88, 1418-1431. doi: 10.1016/j.iref.2023.07.090
The link between households’ durable asset accumulation and healthcare utilisation and spending
Koomson, Isaac, Abdul-Mumuni, Abdallah, Ampah, David Kofi and Afful, Anthony Fiifi (2023). The link between households’ durable asset accumulation and healthcare utilisation and spending. International Review of Applied Economics, 37 (5), 1-25. doi: 10.1080/02692171.2023.2254246
Ansong, David, Okumu, Moses, Nyoni, Thabani, Appiah-Kubi, Jamal, Amoako, Emmanuel Owusu, Koomson, Isaac and Conklin, Jamie (2023). The effectiveness of financial capability and asset building interventions in improving youth’s educational well-being: a systematic review. Adolescent Research Review. doi: 10.1007/s40894-023-00223-x
Income inequality and economic growth in BRICS: insights from non-parametric techniques
Acheampong, Alex O., Adebayo, Tomiwa Sunday, Dzator, Janet and Koomson, Isaac (2023). Income inequality and economic growth in BRICS: insights from non-parametric techniques. Journal of Economic Inequality, 21 (3), 619-640. doi: 10.1007/s10888-023-09567-9
Ansong, David, Koomson, Isaac, Okumu, Moses, Alhassan, Mustapha, Makubuya, Timothy and Abreh, Might Kojo (2023). Private supplementary tutoring expenditures and children’s learning outcomes: gender and locational evidence from Ghana. Studies in Educational Evaluation, 76 101232. doi: 10.1016/j.stueduc.2022.101232
Villano, Renato A., Koomson, Isaac, Nengovhela, Nkhanedzeni B., Mudau, Livhuwani, Burrow, Heather M. and Bhullar, Navjot (2023). Relationships between farmer psychological profiles and farm business performance amongst smallholder beef and poultry farmers in South Africa. Agriculture, 13 (3) 548, 1-22. doi: 10.3390/agriculture13030548
Psychological profiles of South African smallholder farmers
Bhullar, Navjot, Nengovhela, Nkhanedzeni B., Mudau, Livhuwani, Villano, Renato A., Koomson, Isaac and Burrow, Heather M. (2023). Psychological profiles of South African smallholder farmers. PLoS One, 18 (2) e0265634, 1-16. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265634
Financial inclusion and food insecurity: examining linkages and potential pathways
Koomson, Isaac, Asongu, Simplice A. and Acheampong, Alex O. (2023). Financial inclusion and food insecurity: examining linkages and potential pathways. Journal of Consumer Affairs, 57 (1), 418-444. doi: 10.1111/joca.12505
Bukari, Chei, Koomson, Isaac and Annim, Samuel Kobina (2023). Financial inclusion, vulnerability coping strategies and multidimensional poverty: Does conceptualisation of financial inclusion matter?. Review of Development Economics, 28 (2), 462-498. doi: 10.1111/rode.13062
Transport poverty and obesity: The mediating roles of social capital and physical activity
Awaworyi Churchill, Sefa, Koomson, Isaac and Munyanyi, Musharavati Ephraim (2023). Transport poverty and obesity: The mediating roles of social capital and physical activity. Transport Policy, 130, 155-166. doi: 10.1016/j.tranpol.2022.11.006
Effect of financial literacy on poverty reduction across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda
Koomson, Isaac, Ansong, David, Okumu, Moses and Achulo, Solomon (2022). Effect of financial literacy on poverty reduction across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Global Social Welfare, 10 (1), 93-103. doi: 10.1007/s40609-022-00259-2
Kofinti, Raymond Elikplim, Koomson, Isaac, Paintsil, Jones Arkoh and Ameyaw, Edward Kwabena (2022). Reducing children's malnutrition by increasing mothers' health insurance coverage: A focus on stunting and underweight across 32 sub-Saharan African countries. Economic Modelling, 117 106049, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.econmod.2022.106049
How does ethnic diversity affect energy poverty? Insights from South Africa
Koomson, Isaac, Afoakwah, Clifford and Ampofo, Akwasi (2022). How does ethnic diversity affect energy poverty? Insights from South Africa. Energy Economics, 111 106079, 106079. doi: 10.1016/j.eneco.2022.106079
Koomson, Isaac and Afoakwah, Clifford (2022). Can financial inclusion improve children's learning outcomes and late school enrolment in a developing country?. Applied Economics, 55 (3), 237-254. doi: 10.1080/00036846.2022.2086683
Koomson, Isaac and Churchill, Sefa Awaworyi (2022). Employment precarity and energy poverty in post-apartheid South Africa: Exploring the racial and ethnic dimensions. Energy Economics, 110 106026, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.eneco.2022.106026
Koomson, Isaac, Martey, Edward and Etwire, Prince M. (2022). Mobile money and entrepreneurship in East Africa: the mediating roles of digital savings and access to digital credit. Information Technology & People, 36 (3), 996-1019. doi: 10.1108/itp-11-2021-0906
The role of financial literacy in households' asset accumulation process: evidence from Ghana
Koomson, Isaac, Villano, Renato A. and Hadley, David (2022). The role of financial literacy in households' asset accumulation process: evidence from Ghana. Review of Economics of the Household, 21 (2), 591-614. doi: 10.1007/s11150-022-09603-z
Koomson, Isaac, Churchill, Sefa Awaworyi and Munyanyi, Musharavati Ephraim (2022). Gambling and financial stress. Social Indicators Research, 163 (1), 473-503. doi: 10.1007/s11205-022-02898-6
Parental time poverty, child work and school attendance in Ghana
Martey, Edward, Etwire, Prince M. and Koomson, Isaac (2022). Parental time poverty, child work and school attendance in Ghana. Child Indicators Research, 15, 1489-1515. doi: 10.1007/s12187-022-09926-4
Koomson, Isaac, Okumu, Moses and Ansong, David (2022). Introducing the Disease Outbreak Resilience Index (DORI) using the demographic and health surveys data from sub-Saharan Africa. Social Indicators Research, 162 (3), 1149-1175. doi: 10.1007/s11205-022-02881-1
Financial Capability in Africa: Innovation Through Evidence, Practice, and Policy
Ansong, David, Okumu, Moses and Koomson, Isaac (2022). Financial Capability in Africa: Innovation Through Evidence, Practice, and Policy. Global Social Welfare, 10 (1), 1-7. doi: 10.1007/s40609-022-00256-5
Impact of climate change adaptation on farm productivity and household welfare
Etwire, Prince Maxwell, Koomson, Isaac and Martey, Edward (2022). Impact of climate change adaptation on farm productivity and household welfare. Climatic Change, 170 (1-2). doi: 10.1007/s10584-022-03308-z
Okumu, Moses, Ansong, David, Koomson, Isaac and Chen, Ding-Geng (2021). How financial resilience shapes social and public health policy choices in sub-Saharan Africa: Empirical insights from the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research, 15 (1), 000-000. doi: 10.1086/717770
Effect of financial inclusion on out-of-pocket health expenditure: empirics from Ghana
Koomson, Isaac, Abdul-Mumuni, Abdallah and Abbam, Anthony (2021). Effect of financial inclusion on out-of-pocket health expenditure: empirics from Ghana. European Journal of Health Economics, 22 (9), 1411-1425. doi: 10.1007/s10198-021-01320-1
Koomson, Isaac, Bukari, Chei and Villano, Renato A. (2021). Mobile money adoption and response to idiosyncratic shocks: empirics from five selected countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 167 120728, 120728. doi: 10.1016/j.techfore.2021.120728
Ethnic diversity and food insecurity: Evidence from Ghana
Koomson, Isaac and Churchill, Sefa Awaworyi (2021). Ethnic diversity and food insecurity: Evidence from Ghana. The Journal of Development Studies, 57 (11), 1912-1926. doi: 10.1080/00220388.2021.1928641
Asante, Bright Owusu, Koomson, Isaac, Villano, Renato A. and Wiredu, Alexander Nimo (2021). Adoption of integrated crop-livestock management practices (ICLMPs) among men and women smallholder farmers in Ghana. Gender, Technology and Development, 25 (2), 163-192. doi: 10.1080/09718524.2021.1911021
Ansong, David, Okumu, Moses, Otchere, Frank, Koomson, Isaac and Sherraden, Michael (2021). Addressing the burden of education financing in low and lower-middle-income countries: The role of savings accounts, cash transfers, and other income sources. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 42 (4), 745-756. doi: 10.1007/s10834-021-09757-5
Koomson, Isaac, Villano, Renato Andrin and Hadley, David (2021). Accelerating the impact of financial literacy training programmes on household consumption by empowering women. Applied Economics, 53 (29), 3359-3376. doi: 10.1080/00036846.2021.1878093
Re–examining Bhagwati hypothesis: the case of some selected countries in Sub-Saharan Africa
Ibrahim, Muazu, Koomson, Isaac, Aluko, Olufemi Adewale and Opoku, Eric Evans Osei (2021). Re–examining Bhagwati hypothesis: the case of some selected countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Transnational Corporations Review, 13 (3), 334-345. doi: 10.1080/19186444.2020.1863702
How does school travel time impact children's learning outcomes in a developing country?
Afoakwah, Clifford and Koomson, Isaac (2021). How does school travel time impact children's learning outcomes in a developing country?. Review of Economics of the Household, 19 (4), 1077-1097. doi: 10.1007/s11150-020-09533-8
Financial inclusion and energy poverty: empirical evidence from Ghana
Koomson, Isaac and Danquah, Michael (2021). Financial inclusion and energy poverty: empirical evidence from Ghana. Energy Economics, 94 105085, 105085. doi: 10.1016/j.eneco.2020.105085
Firm size differences in financial returns from flexible work arrangements (FWAs)
Kotey, Bernice and Koomson, Isaac (2021). Firm size differences in financial returns from flexible work arrangements (FWAs). Small Business Economics, 56 (1), 65-81. doi: 10.1007/s11187-019-00201-5
Improving productivity among smallholder farmers in Ghana: does financial inclusion matter?
Peprah, James Atta, Koomson, Isaac, Sebu, Joshua and Bukari, Chei (2020). Improving productivity among smallholder farmers in Ghana: does financial inclusion matter?. Agricultural Finance Review, 81 (4), 481-502. doi: 10.1108/afr-12-2019-0132
Koomson, Isaac, Villano, Renato A. and Hadley, David (2020). Effect of financial inclusion on poverty and vulnerability to poverty: evidence using a multidimensional measure of financial inclusion. Social Indicators Research, 149 (2), 613-639. doi: 10.1007/s11205-019-02263-0
Financial sector development convergence in africa: evidence from bank-and market-based measures
Sare, Yakubu Awudu, Opoku, Eric Evans Osei, Ibrahim, Muazu and Koomson, Isaac (2019). Financial sector development convergence in africa: evidence from bank-and market-based measures. Economics and Business Letters, 8 (4), 166-175. doi: 10.17811/ebl.8.4.2019.166-175
Koomson, Isaac, Villano, Renato A. and Hadley, David (2019). Intensifying financial inclusion through the provision of financial literacy training: a gendered perspective. Applied Economics, 52 (4), 375-387. doi: 10.1080/00036846.2019.1645943
Household deficiency in demand for water: do water source and travel time matter?
Nunoo, Jacob, Koomson, Isaac and Orkoh, Emmanuel (2018). Household deficiency in demand for water: do water source and travel time matter?. Global Social Welfare, 5 (3), 179-187. doi: 10.1007/s40609-017-0092-6
Employment security and workers’ moonlighting behavior in Ghana
Nunoo, Jacob, Darfor, Kwabena Nkansah, Koomson, Isaac and Arthur, Abigail (2018). Employment security and workers’ moonlighting behavior in Ghana. Journal of Economic Studies, 45 (1), 144-155. doi: 10.1108/JES-04-2016-0074
Financial globalisation uncertainty/instability is good for financial development
Asongu, Simplice A., Koomson, Isaac and Tchamyou, Vanessa S. (2017). Financial globalisation uncertainty/instability is good for financial development. Research in International Business and Finance, 41, 280-291. doi: 10.1016/j.ribaf.2017.04.042
Loan refusal, household income and savings in Ghana: a dominance analysis approach
Koomson, Isaac, Annim, Samuel Kobina and Peprah, James Atta (2016). Loan refusal, household income and savings in Ghana: a dominance analysis approach. African Journal of Economic and Sustainable Development, 5 (2), 172-191. doi: 10.1504/ajesd.2016.076095
Koomson, Isaac and Asongu, Simplice A. (2016). Relative contribution of child labour to household farm and non-farm income in Ghana: Simulation with child's education. African Development Review, 28 (1), 104-115. doi: 10.1111/1467-8268.12170
(2023–2024) Global Snakebite Initiative USA Foundation