scholarly journals Trade openness, institutions and economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 541-560
Author(s):  
Taiwo AKINLO ◽  
Charles Olalekan OKUNLOLA
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Interactive Effect ◽  
Trade Openness ◽  
Institutional Quality ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Law And Order ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Nonlinear Growth ◽  
Government Stability ◽  
Sub Saharan

This research investigates the interactive effect of trade openness and the institutional quality on economic growth in sub-Sahara Africa. The sample consists of 38 sub-Saharan African countries and covers the period 1986-2015. Pooled OLS, fixed effect, and Dynamic GMM were used as estimation techniques. The empirical section used a nonlinear growth regression specification that interacts trade openness with law and order, bureaucratic quality, corruption, government stability, and democratic accountability. The study found that corruption, government stability, law and order, and bureaucratic quality as institutional quality variables harm economic growth. The interaction of trade openness and institutional quality variables positively impacted economic growth. It is an indication that trade openness better impacted economic growth in the presence of high-quality institutional variables.

scholarly journals EFFECT OF TRADE OPENNESS ON ECONOMIC GROWTH IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: DYNAMIC PANEL ANALYSIS

2021 ◽  
pp. 23-35
Author(s):  
Wycliffe Mugun
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Capital Stock ◽  
Trade Openness ◽  
Generalized Method Of Moments ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Allocation Of Resources ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Regional Trade ◽  
Explanatory Variables ◽  
Sub Saharan

Theoretically, proponents of traditional trade theories argue that trade openness can enhance economic growth by providing access to goods and services, achieving efficiency in allocation of resources through comparative advantage, creation of employment opportunities and generation of capital that leads to better living standards in terms of higher level of GDP per capita,trade openness may strengthen economic growth through different channels such as efficient allocation of resources. However, owing to the fact that there are limited studies on trade openness, various studies indicate divergent views on the effect of trade openness on economic growth. For this reason, it is not clear whether or not trade openness affect economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa. The main objective of this study was to investigate the effect of trade openness on economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa. Control variables used in the regression included oversees development assistance, population growth rate, domestic credit and foreign direct investment. Trade openness, inflation and capital stock were explanatory variables and economic growth the dependent variable. This study was modeled using the Neoclassical Growth theory. One- step difference Generalized Method of Moments results revealed that trade openness had a positive and significant effect on economic growth, capital stock positive and insignificant relationship, while inflation had positive and insignificant relationship with economic growth in SSA.The study thus recommends that there is a need for improving balance of trade by increasing exports diversification and balanced growth and the policy makers of SSA countries should have to give a priority for trade and investment policies which requires some reforms to adjust with changing economic environment. The study concluded that extra-regional trade spurs higher output than intra-regional trade. This may be due to lack of efficiency in the implementation of trade agreements among the intra-regional constituent countries such as Sub-Saharan African countries and lack of full commitment by the member states governments to trade more intensively. KEYWORDS: Trade openness, economic growth, Sub-Saharan Africa

Managing African Urbanization in the Context of Environmental Change

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuaib Lwasa
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Economic Growth ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Urban Governance ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Urbanization Rate ◽  
Development And Management

Africa’s urbanization rate has increased steadily over the past three decades and is reported to be faster than in any other region in the world . It is estimated that by 2030, over half of the African population will be living in urban areas . But the nature of Africa’s urbanization and subsequent form of cities is yet to be critically analyzed in the context of city authorities’ readiness to address the challenges . Evidence is also suggesting that urbanization in African countries is increasingly associated with the high economic growth that has been observed in the last two decades . Both underlying and proximate drivers are responsible for the urbanization, and these include population dynamics, economic growth, legislative designation, increasing densities in rural centers, as well as the growth of mega cities such as Lagos, Cairo and Kinshasa, that are extending to form urban corridors . With the opportunities of urbanization in Sub–Saharan Africa, there are also challenges in the development and management of these cities . Those challenges include provision of social services, sustainable economic development, housing development, urban governance, spatial development guidance and environmental management, climate change adaptation, mitigation and disaster risk reduction . The challenge involves dealing with the development and infrastructure deficit, in addition to required adaption to and mitigation of climate change . This paper examines the current state of urban management in Africa .

scholarly journals Financial Inclusion, Income Inequality and Sustainable Economic Growth in Sub-Saharan African Countries

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 1780
Author(s):  
Chima M. Menyelim ◽  
Abiola A. Babajide ◽  
Alexander E. Omankhanlen ◽  
Benjamin I. Ehikioya
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Income Inequality ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Kuznets Curve ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Financial Access ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Sustainable Economic Growth ◽  
The Impact

This study evaluates the relevance of inclusive financial access in moderating the effect of income inequality on economic growth in 48 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) for the period 1995 to 2017. The findings using the Generalised Method of Moments (sys-GMM) technique show that inclusive financial access contributes to reducing inequality in the short run, contrary to the Kuznets curve. The result reveals a negative effect of financial access on the relationship between income inequality and economic growth. There is a positive net effect of inclusive financial access in moderating the impact of income inequality on economic growth. Given the need to achieve the Sustainable Development Targets in the sub-region, policymakers and other stakeholders of the economy must design policies and programmes that would enhance access to financial services as an essential mechanism to reduce income disparity and enhance sustainable economic growth.

scholarly journals Foreign Direct Investment - Growth Linkage in Sub-Saharan Africa: Is Governance a Mediating Factor?

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-129
Author(s):  
Fisayo Fagbemi ◽  
Kehinde Mary Bello
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Political Stability ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Policy Framework ◽  
Investment Efficiency ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Sub Saharan

In sub – Saharan Africa, weak institutions and the rising concern for improved business environment offer considerable leverage for enhancing the effectiveness of institutional framework, capital inflows, and public investment efficiency. These have put SSA in the global spotlight in recent times. Hence, the study examines the mediating effect of governance on FDI – growth nexus in 35 SSA countries between 2002 and 2017 using panel data techniques (Pooled OLS, Fixed Effects, and Panel-Corrected Standard Error’ (PCSE) estimation) and the Dynamic One – Step Difference and System GMM. Results indicate that control of corruption, political stability and regulatory quality, including governance composite index, have a positive and significant effect on economic growth, suggesting that institutions have a salutary impact on SSA economies. The findings further show that FDI inflows adversely influence growth owing to insufficient absorptive capacity that could enhance FDI effectiveness in the region. More importantly, the pervasiveness of poor governance in SSA is identified as a critical case that undermines the development of the nexus between FDI and economic growth. Thus, the study suggests that FDI – growth linkage would be enhanced by promoting a strong institutional environment that offers a good mechanism for attaining the actual FDI spillover potential through a policy framework that points the path towards cost-effective measures in SSA. Also, there should be core investment policies across African countries that would induce the private sector in consolidating government efforts and resources aimed at improving international competitiveness by diversifying the region’s economies away from a protracted commodity – based.

scholarly journals Long-Run and Short-Run Effects of Trade Openness on Life Quality in Sub-Saharan Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 72-83
Author(s):  
Guivis Zeufack Nkemgha ◽  
Aimée Viviane Mbita ◽  
Symphorin Engone Mve ◽  
Rodrigue Tchoffo
Keyword(s):  
Trade Openness ◽  
Life Quality ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Pooled Mean Group ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Short Run ◽  
French Colonies ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
British Colonies

This paper contributes to the understanding of the other neglected effects of trade openness by analysing how it affects life quality in sub-Saharan African countries over the period 2000–2016. We used two trade openness indicators, namely: Squalli and Wilson index and the rate of trade. The empirical evidence is based on a pooled mean group approach. With two panels differentiated by their colonial origin, the following findings are established: the trade openness variable measured by Squalli and Wilson index has no effect on life quality in the both groups of countries in the short-run. However, it has a positive and significant effect on life quality in the both group of countries in the long-run. The use of the rate of trade confirms the results in the both groups of countries in the long-run. The contribution of trade openness to life quality is 3.27 and 5.19 times higher in the Former British Colonies than that recorded in the Former French Colonies of SSA respectively to the use of Squalli and Wilson index and the rate of trade. Overall, we find strong evidence supporting the view that trade openness promotes life quality in SSA countries in the long run.

scholarly journals THE ROLE OF FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND INSTITUTIONAL QUALITY ON ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN COUNTRIES

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (9) ◽  
pp. 156-177
Author(s):  
Aliyu Alhaji Jibrilla
Keyword(s):  
Financial Development ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Emissions ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Institutional Quality ◽  
Environmental Conservation ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Pooled Mean Group ◽  
Sub Saharan

This study addresses the question of financial development and institutional quality influence on the environmental sustainability of some 13 countries from the sub-Saharan Africa. Relying upon pooled mean group (PMG) for panel data, we provide evidence which suggest that both financial development and institutional quality are statistically significant determinants of per capita carbon dioxide emissions in the region. More specifically, we found that without healthy institutions and sound financial system sub-Saharan African countries might not avoid environmental degradation experienced by advanced nations during their early stage of economic progress. Our results also support the EKC hypothesis in the region.  In addition, the paper also shows that more openness to FDI inflows is good for the environment across the SSA. These findings suggest the need for institutional and financial service reform that supports robust environmental conservation.

scholarly journals HIV/AIDS and Economic Growth: Empirical Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danjuma Maijama'a ◽  
Shamzaeffa Samsudin ◽  
Shazida jan Mohd Khan
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Time Lag ◽  
Hiv And Aids ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Growth Equation ◽  
Solow Model ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
Sub Saharan

<p>This study investigates the effects of the HIV and AIDS epidemic on economic growth in 42<br />sub-Saharan African countries using data spanning from 1990-2013. Unlike previous studies,<br />we use a longer data horizon and take the time lag effect of the epidemic’s incubation period<br />that is, after it might have developed to AIDS into consideration in our estimations. We<br />estimated an empirical growth equation within an augmented Solow model and applied the<br />dynamic system GMM estimator. The results suggest that current HIV prevalence rate –<br />associated with rising morbidity, has a negative effect on GDP per capita growth, conversely<br />AIDS – associated with higher mortality in addition to morbidity, increases per capita GDP<br />growth.</p>

scholarly journals Relationship between Public Debt Burden and Health Expenditure in Sub-Saharan African Countries: The Role of Institutional Quality

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rusmawati Said ◽  
Abdullahi Sani Morai
Keyword(s):  
Public Debt ◽  
Health Expenditure ◽  
Institutional Quality ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
African Countries ◽  
The Public ◽  
Debt Burden ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Relationship

The historically lower level of public health expenditure of sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries could be partly explained by the mounting debt burden of this region. This consumes a sizable proportion of their domestic resources to debt servicing and potentially decreases their overall budgetary allocations to various sectors in the economy and health expenditure in particular. Using the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) approach on a sample of 43 sub-Saharan African countries, we examined the relationship between the public debt burden and health expenditure highlighting the role of institutional quality for the period 2000 – 2014. The empirical result confirms that the relationship between public debt burden and health expenditure in sub-Saharan Africa is negative. Interestingly, however, the marginal effect of the relationship between the public debt burden and health expenditure has shown that such a negative relationship turns out to be positive when the quality of the institutions is at maximum. This suggests that the relationship between the public debt burden and health expenditure in sub-Saharan Africa is a function of institutional quality.  Therefore, to minimize the negative impact of public debt on health expenditure in sub-Saharan Africa, governments should take determine stand to minimize its debt accumulation and intensify efforts toward the improvement of institutional quality in the region comprehensively.

scholarly journals Trade Openness and Competitiveness: BRICS and Sub-Saharan Africa Countries

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-84
Author(s):  
Lamia Jamel ◽  
◽  
Abdelkader Derbali ◽  
Ali Lamouchi ◽  
Ahmed Elnagar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Trade Openness ◽  
Industrial Sector ◽  
Trade Flows ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Brics Countries ◽  
Manufactured Products ◽  
Identification Test ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Do So

The aim of this study is to highlight the key competitiveness elements that promote trade flows between the BRICS countries of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa and those in Sub-Saharan Africa. To do so, we employ the econometrics of panel data during the period of study from 1995 to 2018. We apply the Blundell and Bond GMM estimator [1998] and we utilize Sargan’s [1958] over-identification test to confirm the validity of delayed variables in level and difference as instruments used in our estimations. The empirical findings of our study show that trade policy actions, high natural resource allocation and the evolution of gross domestic product (GDP) per capita of the participating countries promote this trade openness between BRICS and Sub-Saharan Africa economies. Additionally, African countries need to develop their industrial sector to export more high-value manufactured products.

scholarly journals Factors of Economic Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa: Current Trends

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 38-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. V. Podbiralina ◽  
J. C. Asiagba
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Added Value ◽  
African Countries ◽  
The World ◽  
Innovative Products ◽  
The Status ◽  
Sub Saharan

Despite the fact that the African continent is positioned as one of the fastest growing economies in the world (especially the sub-region of sub-Saharan Africa), the lack of industrialization and the use of modern technologies continues to be a brake on the development of the economies of African countries, which largely depend on agriculture and exports of raw goods that have a relatively low added value and account for more than 80% of their exports. This has a negative impact not only on the economic development of the region, but also on per capita incomes of the population. This article assesses the existing economic potential of African countries, which is one of the most important factors for overcoming economic backwardness, achieving the goals of sustainable development, raising the standard of living of the population and changing the status of SSA countries in the world economic system. It is shown that it is important for African states to attract new technologies and innovative products to the industrial and agricultural sectors, since knowledge and innovations are the locomotive of economic growth and are one of the most important factors in the reconstruction and modernization of their economies.

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