University of Malawi

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Mr. Laston Petro Manja

LECTURER
Economics

Research Areas

Development and Labor Economics,

Profile

I am a Lecturer in Economics (tenure track) in the Department of Economics at the University of Malawi, and an Economics PhD student and an African Presidential Scholars alumnus at the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. I have consulted with various organizations and international financial institutions, such as the World Bank. I have held various leadership positions in academic, workplace and in other settings; working with different development partners, government departments, and other organizations and institutions involved in high-level research and development activities. My current research interests are within broad issues of development and labor.

Publications

  • Journal Article
    Tembo, D., Manja, L. P., & Joshua, M. K. (2024). Faith and food in rural Malawi: an investigation into the sociocultural determinants of household food security. Food, Culture & Society, 1–29. https://doi.org/10.1080/15528014.2024.2407195 (2024)
    https://doi.org/10.1080/15528014.2024.2407195
  • Journal Article
    Manja, L. P., & Badjie, I. A. (2025). Does household welfare change with finance access? The case of women and the youth in The Gambia. Review of Development Economics, 29(1), 64–104. https://doi.org/10.1111/rode.13053 (2023)
    https://doi.org/10.1111/rode.13053
  • Journal Article
    Zingwe, D. E., Banda, A. E., & Manja, L. P. (2023). The effects of remittances on household food nutrition security in the context of multiple shocks in Malawi. Cogent Food & Agriculture, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2023.2238440 (2023)
    https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2023.2238440
  • Journal Article
    Chirwa, G. C., Manja, L. P., Chasukwa, M., Gunde, A., Dulani, B., Kayuni, H., & Chinsinga, B. (2023). Assessing the relationship between digital divide and citizens’ political participation in Africa. Development Southern Africa, 40(6), 1258–1276. https://doi.org/10.1080/0376835X.2023.2224363 (2023)
    https://doi.org/10.1080/0376835X.2023.2224363
  • Journal Article
    Salima, W., Manja, L.P., Chiwaula, L.S. & Chirwa, G.C. (2023). The impact of credit access on household food security in Malawi. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2022.100490 (2023)
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2022.100490
  • Journal Article
    Manja, L.P., Silumbu, E.B.D. & Chaweza, R.D.C. (2022). Determinants of Demand for International Reserves in the SADC Region. African Review of Economics and Finance, 1-28. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/359278359_Determinants_of_demand_for_international_reserves_in_the_SADC_region (2022)
    https://www.researchgate.net/publication/359278359_Determinants_of_demand_for_international_reserves_in_the_SADC_region
  • Journal Article
    Manja, L. P., & Badjie, I. A. (2022). The Welfare Effects of Formal and Informal Financial Access in the Gambia: A Comparative Assessment. Sage Open, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440221081111 (2022)
    https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440221081111
  • Book Chapters
    Mwale, M.L., Chirwa, G.C., Kamninga T.M. & Manja L.P. (2021). Trust in Election Management Bodies, Participation in Demonstrations and Willingness to Pay Taxes: evidence from Malawi. In K. Ross, A.L. Chiweza & W.O. Mulwafu (Eds.), Beyond Impunity: New Directions for Governance in Malawi (pp. 97-114). (2021)
  • Journal Article
    Zingwe, D. E., Manja, L. P., & Chirwa, E. W. (2021). The effects of engendered intra-household power dynamics on household food security and nutrition in Malawi. Journal of Gender Studies, 32(2), 167–185. https://doi.org/10.1080/09589236.2021.1940110 (2020)
    https://doi.org/10.1080/09589236.2021.1940110
  • Journal Article
    Al-Hanawi, M.K., Chirwa, G.C., Kamninga T.M. & Manja L.P. (2020). Effects of Financial Inclusion on Access to Emergency Funds for Healthcare in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, 2020(13): 1157—1167. https://doi.org/10.2147/JMDH.S277357 (2020)
    https://doi.org/10.2147/JMDH.S277357
  • Conference Papers
    Manja, L.P. & Silumbu, E.B.D. The Comparative Potential Growth-Enhancing Effects of the AFCFTA and COMESA Trade Regimes. Paper Presented at The Seventh COMESA Annual Research Forum, 19-21 October 2020, Virtual (2020)
    https://www.comesa.int/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Key-Issues-in-Regional-Integration-Vol-9_final_upload.pdf