Foreign aid and economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 147-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nihar Ranjan Jena ◽  
Narayan Sethi
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Foreign Aid ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Cointegration Test ◽  
Modeling Framework ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Short Run ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the effectiveness of foreign aid in improving economic growth prospects in the sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region from 1993 to 2017. Design/methodology/approach A sample of 45 SSA countries for the period 1993–2017 is considered for this study. The study uses various econometrics tools such as Pedroni and Kao’s cointegration test, Johansen-Fisher Panel cointegration test, FMOLS and PDOLS in order to ascertain the long-run and short-run dynamics among the variables under consideration. Findings The empirical results find that long-run and short-run relationships exist among foreign aid, economic growth, investment, financial deepening, price stability and trade openness of the SSA economies. The authors also find unidirectional causality running from foreign aid to economic growth. The policymakers in these countries are well-advised to implement suitable policy measures to build on the growth momentum created by foreign aid inflows. Originality/value The study uses a dynamic macroeconomic modeling framework to assess the impact of aid flows on economic growth in the SSA region. Taking into account the diversity of level of growth experienced by the 45 countries in the region, the study uses an appropriate regression technique, i.e., panel dynamic OLS whose results are robust. The finding is also supported by the Granger-causality test and robust cointegration techniques.

scholarly journals Are some taxes better for growth in Pakistan? A time series analysis

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (10) ◽  
pp. 1439-1452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kashif Munir ◽  
Maryam Sultan
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Time Series ◽  
International Trade ◽  
Sales Tax ◽  
Tax Base ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Indirect Taxes ◽  
Short Run ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact of taxes on economic growth in the long run as well as in the short run. Design/methodology/approach The study uses simple time series model, where real GDP is dependent variable and different forms of taxes are explanatory variables under ARDL framework from 1976 to 2014 at annual frequency for Pakistan. Findings Direct taxes have positive relation with economic growth in the long run. Sales tax, tax on international trade (tariffs) and other indirect taxes have positive impact on economic growth of Pakistan in the long run as well as in the short run. However, sales tax and other indirect taxes impact negatively on economic growth in the short run after one year because people realize decline in their real income. Practical implications Government should increase direct taxes by increasing tax base. Indirect taxes usually indicate negative impact after one and two years; therefore, government should decrease its reliance on indirect taxes. Government should promote tax awareness among the people which increase the tax morale of people and increase the tax base. Originality/value Taxes are disaggregated into direct and indirect taxes, while indirect taxes have been further disaggregated into excise duty, sales tax, surcharges, tax on international trade and other indirect taxes. This study provides useful insight for policy makers in designing taxes and their effect on growth.

Innovation, institutions and economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa – an IV estimation of a panel threshold model

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Ato Forson ◽  
Rosemary Afrakomah Opoku ◽  
Michael Owusu Appiah ◽  
Evans Kyeremeh ◽  
Ibrahim Anyass Ahmed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Developing Economies ◽  
Innovation Policy ◽  
Threshold Model ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Panel Regressions ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

PurposeThe significant impact of innovation in stimulating economic growth cannot be overemphasized, more importantly from policy perspective. For this reason, the relationship between innovation and economic growth in developing economies such as the ones in Africa has remained topical. Yet, innovation as a concept is multi-dimensional and cannot be measured by just one single variable. With hindsight of the traditional measures of innovation in literature, we augment it with the number of scientific journals published in the region to enrich this discourse.Design/methodology/approachWe focus on an approach that explores innovation policy qualitatively from various policy documents of selected countries in the region from three policy perspectives (i.e. institutional framework, financing and diffusion and interaction). We further investigate whether innovation as perceived differently is important for economic growth in 25 economies in sub-Saharan Africa over the period 1990–2016. Instrumental variable estimation of a threshold regression is used to capture the contributions of innovation as a multi-dimensional concept on economic growth, while dealing with endogeneity between the regressors and error term.FindingsThe results from both traditional panel regressions and IV panel threshold regressions show a positive relationship between innovation and economic growth, although the impact seems negligible. Institutional quality dampens innovation among low-regime economies, and the relation is persistent regardless of when the focus is on aggregate or decomposed institutional factors. The impact of innovation on economic growth in most regressions is robust to different dimensions of innovation. Yet, the coefficients of the innovation variables in the two regimes are quite dissimilar. While most countries in the region have offered financial support in the form of budgetary allocations to strengthen institutions, barriers to the design and implementation of innovation policies may be responsible for the sluggish contribution of innovation to the growth pattern of the region.Originality/valueSegregating economies of Africa into two distinct regimes based on a threshold of investment in education as a share of GDP in order to understand the relationship between innovation and economic growth is quite novel. This lends credence to the fact that innovation as a multifaceted concept does not take place by chance – it is carefully planned. We have enriched the discourse of innovation and thus helped in deepening understanding on this contentious subject.

Nutrition and economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa: a causality test using panel data

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 174-189
Author(s):  
Kolawole Ogundari ◽  
Adebayo Aromolaran
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Dynamic Panel ◽  
Causality Test ◽  
Panel Causality ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Causality Tests ◽  
Short Run ◽  
Sub Saharan

Purpose This study aims to investigate the causal relationship between nutrition and economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa. Design/methodology/approach A dynamic panel causality test based on the Blundell-Bond’s system generalized methods-of-moment was used. To make efficient inference for the estimates, the authors check for the panel unit root and co-integration relationship amongst the variables. Findings The variables were found to be non-stationary at level, stationary after first difference and co-integrated. The results of the causality tests reveal evidence of long and short-run bidirectional causality between nutrition and economic growth, which implies that nutritional improvement is a cause and consequence of economic growth and vice versa. Originality/value This is the first study to consider causality between nutrition and economic growth in the region.

scholarly journals Foreign Aid and Economics Development Nexus: The Case of Sierra Leone

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 219-233
Author(s):  
Ezekiel Kalvin Duramany-Lakkoh
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Foreign Aid ◽  
Sierra Leone ◽  
Growth And Development ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Empirical Estimation ◽  
Economic Growth And Development ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Short Run ◽  
The Impact

This study investigates the impact of foreign aid on economic growth in Sierra Leone using cointegration and error correction methodology by Johansen and Juselius (1990). Utilizing secondary data for the period 1970 to 2018, the empirical estimation revealed that foreign aid in Sierra Lone is positively and significantly related to economic growth both in the short run and long run, confirming the importance of the study. The policy implication of the study is that the Sierra Leone government should seek more foreign aid to accelerate economic growth and development.  

scholarly journals Deconstructing the Impact of Entrepreneurship on Income Inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa Countries

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 273-284
Author(s):  
Jimoh S. Ogede
Keyword(s):  
Income Inequality ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Macroeconomic Factors ◽  
Significance Level ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Short Run ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Entrepreneurial Activities ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The study examines the impacts of entrepreneurship on income inequality in a panel of 29 Sub-Saharan African countries spanning from 2004 to 2020. The paper employs a dynamic heterogeneous panel approach to differentiate between long-run and short-run impacts of entrepreneurship on income inequality. The findings establish a robust and direct nexus between entrepreneurial activities and income disparity. The results of the two entrepreneurial indicators are stable. Besides, the coefficient of the human capital is positive in the regression and statistically significant at a 5 percent significance level. The proxies for macroeconomic factors exhibit diverse signs and impact, which suggest a policy stimulus aimed at refining macroeconomic situations and also ignite prospects for households to increase their incomes.

The impact of cryptocurrencies market development on banks’ deposits variability in the GCC region

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-184
Author(s):  
Anwar Hasan Abdullah Othman ◽  
Syed Musa Alhabshi ◽  
Salina Kassim ◽  
Ashurov Sharofiddin
Keyword(s):  
Central Banks ◽  
Cointegration Test ◽  
Gulf Region ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Market Capitalization ◽  
Bank Deposits ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Better Regulation ◽  
Short Run ◽  
The Impact

Purpose With the continuing development of the financial technology revolution, a better understanding of bank deposits variability has become necessary for bank management and policymakers, especially central banks. This is because the novel innovations of cryptocurrencies operate beyond the realm of the banking system, which may impact the performance of banks and their deposits variability. This study aims to investigate the long- and short-run effects of cryptocurrencies’ market capitalization development on the banks’ deposit variability in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. Design/methodology/approach In this study, the Johansen–Juselius (1990) cointegration test with vector error correction model was applied to examine the long-run relationships, while the Engle and Granger (1987) and the Granger (1969) causality tests were used to detect causal relationships in the short term. Findings The findings of Johansen–Juselius cointegration test indicate that the banks’ deposits variability in all six states of the Gulf region share negative long-run equilibrium association with the development of global cryptocurrencies market capitalization, but with different statistically significant levels. For the short-run analysis, the study found that the development of cryptocurrencies market capitalization has significant unidirectional causal effects on bank deposits variabilities in only four states, namely, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain. The findings of the study therefore suggest that to eradicate the effects of cryptocurrencies industry and its threats to the banking industry, banks in GCC region are encouraged to either consider cryptocurrencies as an alternative investment asset for their portfolio investment diversification strategies or adopt the blockchain technology in their operation system to facilitate their customers with low transaction cost, high level of security and ease of use and real-time settlement. Research limitations/implications The empirical findings of the study will provide valuable input for policymakers, especially central banks and bank managements, to evaluate the current situation and the threats of the cryptocurrencies market growth and its effect on the banking industry’s performance, future survival and their deposits variability for better regulation and policy planning and investment strategies. Originality/value This is a pioneering study that empirically explores the phenomenon of bank deposits variability as a consequence of expansion in cryptocurrencies market capitalization, where the findings proved evidence of a drastic decline in banks’ deposits size due to the substantial growth in cryptocurrencies market capitalization.

Human capital interaction on foreign aid-growth nexus: evidence from South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stanley Emife Nwani
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Human Capital ◽  
Foreign Aid ◽  
South Asia ◽  
Unit Root ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Panel Unit Root ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Centre Piece

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the interactive role of human capital development (HCD) in foreign aid-growth relations in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa countries from 1985–2019. Design/methodology/approach The study used panel data that cut across all countries in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa collected from The World Bank’s Development Indicators. The data were analysed using Bai and Ng panel unit root idiosyncratic cross-sectional tests and the system generalised method of moments (SGMM). Findings The study found that foreign aid and HCD have negative impacts on economic growth. Fortunately, the interaction of human capital with foreign aid reduces the extent to which foreign aid impedes economic growth. The presumption is that South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa economies had not reaped the potential growth effect of foreign aid inflows due to high illiteracy rates and weak social capacities. The peculiarity of these regions hinders the absorptive capacity to transform positive externality associated with foreign aid into sizeable economic prosperity. Practical implications It is imperative for South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa countries to not depend on foreign aid; instead, the strategic action by policymakers should be to developing sustainable social capacities with HCD as the centre-piece. Originality/value The highpoint of this study is its inter-regional approach and the interplay between human capital and foreign aid using the second generation panel unit root estimator and the SGMM approaches.

Dynamic inference of healthcare expenditure on economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa: a dynamic heterogenous panel data analysis

2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Idris Abdullahi Abdulqadir ◽  
Bello Malam Sa'idu ◽  
Ibrahim Muhammad Adam ◽  
Fatima Binta Haruna ◽  
Mustapha Adamu Zubairu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Healthcare Expenditure ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Marginal Effect ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Interaction Terms ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThis article investigates the dynamic implication of healthcare expenditure on economic growth in the selected ten Sub-Saharan African countries over the period 2000–2018.Design/methodology/approachThe study methodology included dynamic heterogenous panel, using mean group and pooled mean group estimators. The investigation of the healthcare expenditure and economic growth nexus was achieved while controlling the effects of investment, savings, labor force and life expectancy via interaction terms.FindingsThe results from linear healthcare expenditure have a significant positive impact on economic growth, while the nonlinear estimates through the interaction terms between healthcare expenditure and investment have a negative statistically significant impact on growth. The marginal effect of healthcare expenditure evaluated at the minimum and maximum level of investment is positive, suggesting the impact of health expenditure on growth does not vary with the level of investments. This result responds to the primary objective of the article.Research limitations/implicationsIn policy terms, the impact of investment on healthcare is essential to addressing future health crises. The impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can never be separated from the shortages or low prioritization of health against other sectors of the economy. The article also provides an insight to policymakers on the demand for policy reform that will boost and make the health sector attractive to both domestic and foreign direct investment.Originality/valueGiven the vulnerability of SSA to the health crisis, there are limited studies to examine this phenomenon and first to address the needed investment priorities to the health sector infrastructure in SSA.

The Kyoto Protocol and CO2 emission: is India still hibernating?

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 152-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaqib Ahmad Bhat ◽  
Prajna Paramita Mishra
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Kyoto Protocol ◽  
Empirical Relationship ◽  
Trade Openness ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Short Run ◽  
International Climate ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between CO2 emission and its core determinants, namely, economic growth, energy consumption and trade openness in the pre- and post-Kyoto Protocol era in the Indian economy. Design/methodology/approach The study uses the ARDL bounds test to analyze the long-run and short-run empirical relationship between the interested variables for the time period 1971-2013. A dummy variable representing the Kyoto Protocol regime has been included to examine the likely impact of international climate policies (Kyoto Protocol) in controlling and reducing CO2 emission in India. Findings The empirical results indicate the possibility of increase in CO2 emission from India even after the Kyoto Protocol regime. Evidence of inverted U-shaped relationship between CO2 emission and economic growth (EKC hypothesis) has been confirmed. However, compared to increase in CO2 emission, the magnitude of decrease due to improvement in economic growth is relatively lesser. Energy consumption and trade openness are also found to increase CO2 emission. Research limitations/implications The results indicate that there is a lack of commitment on the part of India to curtail CO2 emission, which can be disastrous for future prosperity. Financing the renewable electricity generation, R&D subsidy and tax-free renewable energy seems to be imperative to address this catastrophic problem. Originality/value This study is the first attempt to analyze the impact of international climate policy (Kyoto Protocol) on CO2 emission by incorporating a fixed dummy in the ARDL specifications.

Does female human capital contribute to economic growth in India?: an empirical investigation

2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (11) ◽  
pp. 1506-1521 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madhu Sehrawat ◽  
A.K. Giri
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Human Capital ◽  
Physical Capital ◽  
Variance Decomposition ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Indian Economy ◽  
Education And Health ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Short Run ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of female human capital on economic growth in the Indian economy during 1970-2014. Design/methodology/approach The paper employs Ng-Perron unit root test to check the order of integration of the variables. The study also used ARDL-bounds testing approach and the unrestricted error-correction model to investigate co-integration in the long run and short run; Granger’s causality test to investigate the direction of the causality; and variance decomposition test to capture the influence of each variable on economic growth. Findings The study constructed a composite index for both male and female human capitals by taking education and health as a proxy for human capital. The empirical findings reveal that female human capital is significant and positively related to economic growth in both short run and long run, while male human capital is positive but insignificant to the economic growth; same is the case for physical capital, it implies that such investment regarding female human capital needs to be reinforced. Further, there is an evidence of a long-run causal relationship from female human capital, male human capital and physical capital to economic growth variable. The results of variance decomposition show the importance of the female human capital variable is increasing over the time and it exerts the largest influence in change in economic growth. Research limitations/implications The empirical findings suggest that the Indian economy has to pay attention equally on the development of female human capital for short-run as well as long-run growth of the economy. This implies that the policy makers should divert more expenditure for developing support for female education and health. Originality/value To the best of authors’ knowledge, this is the first attempt to study the relationship between female human capital and economic growth in the context of the Indian economy.

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