scholarly journals Inclusive human development in sub-Saharan Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-200
Author(s):  
Simplice Asongu ◽  
Joseph Nnanna
Keyword(s):  
Human Development ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Inclusive Development ◽  
Economic Governance ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Income Levels ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Political Governance

Purpose This study aims to assess the role of income levels (low and middle) in modulating governance (political and economic) to influence inclusive human development. Design/methodology/approach The empirical evidence is based on interactive quantile regressions and 49 countries in sub-Saharan Africa for the period 2000-2002. Findings The following main findings are established. Firstly, low income modulates governance (economic and political) to positively affect inclusive human development exclusively in countries with above-median levels of inclusive human development. It follows that countries with averagely higher levels of inclusive human development are more likely to benefit from the relevance of income levels in influencing governance for inclusive development. Secondly, the importance of middle income in modulating political governance to positively affect inclusive human development is apparent exclusively in the median while the relevance of middle income in moderating economic governance to positively influence inclusive human development is significantly apparent in the 10th and 75th quantiles. Thirdly, regardless of panels, income levels modulate economic governance to affect inclusive human development at a higher magnitude, compared to political governance. Policy implications are discussed in light of the post-2015 agenda of sustainable development goals and contemporary development paradigms. Originality/value This study complements the extant sparse literature on inclusive human development in Africa.

scholarly journals Crime and social media

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 1215-1233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simplice Asongu ◽  
Jacinta Nwachukwu ◽  
Stella-Maris Orim ◽  
Chris Pyke
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Quantile Regressions ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Income Levels ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Development Outcomes

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to complement the scant macroeconomic literature on the development outcomes of social media by examining the relationship between Facebook penetration and violent crime levels in a cross-section of 148 countries for the year 2012.Design/methodology/approachThe empirical evidence is based on ordinary least squares (OLS), Tobit and quantile regressions. In order to respond to policy concerns on the limited evidence on the consequences of social media in developing countries, the data set is disaggregated into regions and income levels. The decomposition by income levels included: low income, lower middle income, upper middle income and high income. The corresponding regions include: Europe and Central Asia, East Asia and the Pacific, Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America.FindingsFrom OLS and Tobit regressions, there is a negative relationship between Facebook penetration and crime. However, quantile regressions reveal that the established negative relationship is noticeable exclusively in the 90th crime quantile. Further, when the data set is decomposed into regions and income levels, the negative relationship is evident in the MENA while a positive relationship is confirmed for Sub-Saharan Africa. Policy implications are discussed.Originality/valueStudies on the development outcomes of social media are sparse because of a lack of reliable macroeconomic data on social media. This study primarily complemented three existing studies that have leveraged on a newly available data set on Facebook.

scholarly journals Governance, CO2 emissions and inclusive human development in sub-Saharan Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simplice A Asongu ◽  
Nicholas M Odhiambo
Keyword(s):  
Human Development ◽  
Environmental Degradation ◽  
Rule Of Law ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Inclusive Development ◽  
Institutional Governance ◽  
The Rule Of Law ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Sub Saharan

This study investigates the relevance of government quality in moderating the incidence of environmental degradation on inclusive human development in 44 sub-Saharan African countries for the period 2000–2012. Environmental degradation is measured with CO2 emissions and the governance dynamics include: political stability, voice and accountability, government effectiveness, regulation quality, the rule of law and corruption-control. The empirical evidence is based on the generalised method of moments. Regulation quality modulates CO2 emissions to exert a net negative effect on inclusive development. Institutional governance (consisting of corruption-control and the rule of law) modulates CO2 emissions to also exert a net negative effect on inclusive human development. Fortunately, the corresponding interactive effects are positive, which indicates that good governance needs to be enhanced to achieve positive net effects. A policy threshold of institutional governance at which institutional governance completely dampens the unfavourable effect of CO2 emissions on inclusive human development is established. Other policy implications are discussed.

scholarly journals Mobile phones in the diffusion of knowledge and persistence in inclusive human development in Sub-Saharan Africa

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 289-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simplice Asongu ◽  
Jacinta C. Nwachukwu
Keyword(s):  
Human Development ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Knowledge Economy ◽  
Common Knowledge ◽  
Knowledge Diffusion ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Inclusive Development ◽  
Development Agenda ◽  
Sub Saharan

The success of inclusive development strategies in the post-2015 sustainable development agenda depends substantially on the adoption of common inclusive development policies among nations. Building on the relevance of a knowledge economy in the post-2015 development agenda, this study models the feasibility of common policies for inclusive human development in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). More specifically, we investigate the complementary role of knowledge diffusion in the inclusive benefits of mobile phone penetration in SSA from 2000 to 2012 by employing the Generalised Method of Moments. Knowledge diffusion variables include educational quality, innovation and Internet penetration. The main finding is that inclusive human development is persistently conditional on mobile phones in knowledge diffusion. Moreover, countries with low levels of inclusive human development are catching-up their counterparts with higher development. Policy implications are discussed with particular emphasis on how to leverage common knowledge economy initiatives for inclusive development.

scholarly journals Doing business and inclusive human development in Sub-Saharan Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simplice Asongu ◽  
Nicholas Odhiambo
Keyword(s):  
Human Development ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Inclusive Development ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Doing Business ◽  
Development Agenda ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Time Required

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine how doing business affects inclusive human development in 48 Sub-Saharan Africa for the period 2000–2012.Design/methodology/approachThe measurement of inclusive human development encompasses both absolute pro-poor and relative pro-poor concepts of inclusive development. Three doing business variables are used, namely: the number of start-up procedures required to register a business, time required to start a business, and time to prepare and pay taxes. The empirical evidence is based on fixed effects and generalised method of moments regressions.FindingsThe findings show that increasing constraints to the doing of business have a negative effect on inclusive human development.Originality/valueThe study is timely and very relevant to the post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda for two fundamental reasons: first, exclusive development is a critical policy syndrome in Africa because about 50 per cent of countries in the continent did not attain the Millennium Development Goal extreme poverty target despite enjoying more than two decades of growth resurgence. Second, growth in Africa is primarily driven by large extractive industries and with the population of the continent expected to double in about 30 years, scholarship on entrepreneurship for inclusive development is very welcome. This is essentially because studies have shown that the increase in unemployment (resulting from the underlying demographic change) would be accommodated by the private sector, not the public sector.

scholarly journals Enhancing governance for environmental sustainability in sub-Saharan Africa

2020 ◽  
pp. 014459871990065 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simplice A Asongu ◽  
Nicholas M Odhiambo
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Generalized Method Of Moments ◽  
Political Stability ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Economic Governance ◽  
Institutional Governance ◽  
Government Effectiveness ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Political Economic ◽  
Political Governance

This study assesses whether improving governance standards affects environmental quality in 44 countries in sub-Saharan Africa for the period 2000–2012. The empirical evidence is based on generalized method of moments. Bundled and unbundled governance dynamics are used, notably: (i) political governance (consisting of political stability and “voice and accountability”); (ii) economic governance (entailing government effectiveness and regulation quality), (iii) institutional governance (represented by the rule of law and corruption-control); and (iv) general governance (encompassing political, economic, and institutional governance dynamics). The following hypotheses are tested: (i) Hypothesis 1 ( improving political governance is negatively related to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions); (ii) Hypothesis 2 ( increasing economic governance is negatively related to CO2 emissions); and (iii) Hypothesis 3 ( enhancing institutional governance is negatively related to CO2 emissions). Results of the tested hypotheses show that the validity of Hypothesis 3 cannot be determined based on the results; Hypothesis 2 is not valid, while Hypothesis 1 is partially not valid. The main policy implication is that governance standards need to be further improved in order for government quality to generate the expected unfavorable effects on CO2 emissions.

scholarly journals The state of business sustainability reporting in sub-Saharan Africa: an agenda for policy and practice

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol A. Tilt ◽  
Wei Qian ◽  
Sanjaya Kuruppu ◽  
Dinithi Dissanayake
Keyword(s):  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
New Institutional Economics ◽  
The State ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Reporting Practices ◽  
Sub Saharan

Purpose Developing countries experience their own social, political and environmental issues, but surprisingly limited papers have examined sustainability reporting in these regions, notably in sub-Saharan Africa. To fill this gap and understand the state of sustainability reporting in sub-Saharan Africa, this paper aims to investigate the current state of reporting, identifies the major motivations and barriers for reporting and suggests an agenda of future issues that need to be considered by firms, policymakers and academics. Design/methodology/approach This paper includes analysis of reporting practices in 48 sub-Saharan African countries using the lens of New Institutional Economics. It comprises three phases of data collection and analysis: presentation of overall reporting data collected and provided by Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). analysis of stand-alone sustainability reports using qualitative data analysis and interviews with key report producers. Findings The analysis identifies key issues that companies in selected sub-Saharan African countries are grappling within their contexts. There are significant barriers to reporting but institutional mechanisms, such as voluntary reporting frameworks, provide an important bridge between embedding informal norms and changes to regulatory requirements. These are important for the development of better governance and accountability mechanisms. Research limitations/implications Findings have important implications for policymakers and institutions such as GRI in terms of regulation, outreach and localised training. More broadly, global bodies such as GRI and IIRC in a developing country context may require more local knowledge and support. Limitations include limited data availability, particularly for interviews, which means that these results are preliminary and provide a basis for further work. Practical implications The findings of this paper contribute to the knowledge of sustainability reporting in this region, and provide some policy implications for firms, governments and regulators. Originality/value This paper is one of only a handful looking at the emerging phenomenon of sustainability reporting in sub-Saharan African countries.

scholarly journals Globalisation and governance in Africa: a critical contribution to the empirics

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simplice A. Asongu ◽  
Uchenna Efobi ◽  
Vanessa S. Tchamyou
Keyword(s):  
Political Stability ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Economic Governance ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Institutional Governance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Government Effectiveness ◽  
Generalised Method Of Moments ◽  
Political Governance ◽  
Economic Globalisation

Purpose This study aims to assess the effect of globalisation on governance in 51 African countries for the period 1996-2011. Design/methodology/approach Ten bundled and unbundled governance indicators and four globalisation variables are used. The empirical evidence is based on Generalised Method of Moments. Findings Firstly, on political governance, while only social globalisation improves political stability, only economic globalisation does not increase voice and accountability and political governance. Secondly, with regard to economic governance: only economic globalisation significantly promotes regulation quality; social globalisation and general globalisation significantly advance government effectiveness; and economic globalisation and general globalisation significantly promote economic governance. Thirdly, with respect to institutional governance, while only social globalisation improves corruption-control, the effects of globalisation dynamics on the rule of law and institutional governance are not significant. Fourthly, the impacts of social globalisation and general globalisation are positive on general governance. Practical implications It follows that political governance is driven by voice and accountability compared to political stability; economic governance is promoted by both regulation quality and government effectiveness from specific globalisation angles; and globalisation does not improve institutional governance for the most part. Originality/value Governance variables are bundled and unbundled to reflect evolving conceptions and definitions of governance. Theoretical contributions and policy implications are discussed.

Slow reform may hurt West African monetary bloc's rise

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Regional Integration ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
West African ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Economic And Monetary Union ◽  
The West ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Income Status ◽  
Sub Saharan

Subject Prospects for the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) Significance Economic growth in WAEMU reached 6.1% in 2016, outperforming peer regional blocs including its closest rival, the East Africa Community (EAC), which (excluding South Sudan) grew by 5.8%. However, business environment reforms lag those of the rest of sub-Saharan Africa, which could dampen longer-term growth. Impacts Despite recent progress, growth rates need to increase above 7% for at least 20 years for the zone to reach middle-income status. The structural depreciation of Nigeria's naira could erode regional integration as importing within the zone becomes more expensive. Security fears in Ivory Coast could shift investors' focus to Senegal -- despite Yamoussoukro's recent eurobond success.

Poverty and malnutrition in Africa: a conceptual analysis

2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (6) ◽  
pp. 754-764 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Ayofemi Olalekan Adeyeye ◽  
Abiodun Omowonuola Adebayo-Oyetoro ◽  
Hussaina Kehinde Tiamiyu
Keyword(s):  
Human Development ◽  
World Bank ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Recent Estimate ◽  
The World ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Way

Purpose This paper aims to examine the concept of poverty and malnutrition in Africa, implications and the way out. Design/methodology/approach Several literatures were reviewed on the causes, modes, implications and solutions to the contemporary challenges of poverty and malnutrition in Africa. Findings Poverty and malnutrition are two sides of a coin that are ravaging the African continent. These were as a result of underdevelopment, maladministration and lack of focus and vision by the generations of leaders saddled with administration in different African countries. Poverty in Africa embraces lack of basic human needs faced by people in African society. Many African nations are very poor, and their income per capita or gross domestic product per capita fall toward the bottom of list of nations of the world, despite a wealth of natural resources. In 2009, according to United Nations (UN), 22 of 24 nations identified as having “Low Human Development” on the UN’s Human Development Index were in sub-Saharan Africa and 34 of the 50 nations on the UN list of least developed countries are in Africa. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that 233 million people in sub-Saharan Africa were hungry/undernourished in 2014-2016 (its most recent estimate). In total, 795 million people were hungry worldwide. According to the World Bank, sub-Saharan Africa was the area with the second largest number of hungry people, as Asia had 512 million, mainly due to the much larger population of Asia when compared to sub-Saharan Africa. World Bank also reported in 2012 that sub-Saharan Africa Poverty and Equity Data was 501 million people, or 47 per cent Poverty has also been reported as the principal cause of hunger in Africa and the principal causes of poverty have been found to be harmful economic systems, conflict, environmental factors such as drought and climate change and population growth. Originality/value This study examined the concept of poverty and malnutrition in Africa, the implications and the way out.

scholarly journals New Technologies Create Opportunities

2018 ◽  
pp. 27-47
Author(s):  
Sally Murray
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Advantage ◽  
Industry 4.0 ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Manufacturing Sector ◽  
Middle Income Country ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Energy Prices ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Income Levels ◽  
Sub Saharan

Manufacturing sector growth is a well-trodden path from lower- to middle-income country status, yet its performance in sub-Saharan Africa has been weak. Scholars have opined that a weak comparative advantage in manufacturing is likely to stunt Africa’s development, and others that Industry 4.0 will deepen that disadvantage further. This chapter discusses how new technologies can be positively disruptive—to overcome drivers of weak comparative advantage in manufacturing, create new opportunities in ‘industries without smokestacks’ such as service exports, and raise living standards at given income levels. Technology can help to bring down the costs of living to make wages competitive, bridge and overcome gaps in human capital, make energy prices competitive, and overcome distances between producers and consumers. However, new technologies will not deliver these gains unaided: supportive policies are required to create an environment where these new technologies can deliver on their potential, and these are also discussed.

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