nep-afr New Economics Papers
on Africa
Issue of 2023‒06‒12
four papers chosen by
Sam Sarpong
Xiamen University Malaysia Campus

  1. Funding the Green Transition: Governance Quality, Public Debt, and Renewable Energy Consumption in Sub-Saharan Africa By Favour C. Onuoha; Stephen K. Dimnwobi; Kingsley I. Okere; Chukwunonso Ekesiobi
  2. Delivering public interest goods in Africa. Stopgap measures, state reform, and commons By Jean-Pierre OLIVIER de SARDAN
  3. Droughts and Malnutrition in Africa By Nora Fingado; Steven Poelhekke
  4. Health performance and economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa: new evidence based on quantile regressions By Simplice A. Asongu; Nicholas M. Odhiambo

  1. By: Favour C. Onuoha (Evangel University Akaeze, Nigeria); Stephen K. Dimnwobi (Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria); Kingsley I. Okere (Gregory University, Uturu, Nigeria); Chukwunonso Ekesiobi (Igbariam, Nigeria)
    Abstract: Prompted by the renewable energy funding challenge in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) amid surging public debt in the region, this study investigates the moderating role of governance quality in the relationship between public debt and REC in the region using the Feasible Generalized Least Squares. The study established that public debt positively impacts REC, but the interactive effect of governance quality and public debt impedes REC. Policy prescriptions are put forward to address the funding challenges of transitioning to a green energy future in SSA by highlighting the critical role of governance.
    Keywords: Public Debt, Renewable Energy Consumption, Governance Quality, Sub-Saharan Africa
    Date: 2023–01
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:agd:wpaper:23/028&r=afr
  2. By: Jean-Pierre OLIVIER de SARDAN
    Abstract: Given the polysemy of the concept of “commons, ” we use the concept of “public interest goods, ” the content of which varies according to historical situations. In Africa, different institutions (modes of governance) deliver public goods and services, each according to its own rules and practical norms: the state, development aid, associations, municipalities, chieftaincies, religious structures, sponsors, and the private sector. The poor quality of services delivered by the state, for which many nevertheless have the highest expectations, generates various forms of stopgap delivery, in particular from the associational mode of governance (which includes some commons). However voluntary organizations are most often very dependent on external aid, and their activities generally disappear when the aid ends. Any lasting reform of public services therefore involves relying on innovative actors within governmental bodies (bureaucratic mode of governance), while forging collaborations with innovative actors within the voluntary sector and municipalities in particular, but possibly with other modes of governance, with a view to reducing aid dependency.
    Keywords: Afrique
    JEL: Q
    Date: 2023–05–17
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:avg:wpaper:en14821&r=afr
  3. By: Nora Fingado; Steven Poelhekke
    Abstract: How costly are droughts to individuals’ nutrition in Africa? We measure severe droughts using a detailed satellite-based vegetation index observed bi-monthly for 0.08° grids between 1982 and 2015. Across 32 African countries, conditional on individual characteristics, timing relative to growing seasons, irrigation, climate, and country-year effects, we show that, unlike recurring droughts, a first-time exposure to a three-month severe drought reduces individuals’ body mass index by 2.5%. Droughts are worse for underweight and uneducated individuals. The uneducated are more likely to become unemployed during first-time droughts, whereas both labor reallocation across occupations and migration mitigate the effect of recurring droughts.
    Keywords: drought, nutrition, body-mass index, education, labor reallocation
    JEL: Q54 I10 I24 O13 J60
    Date: 2023
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ces:ceswps:_10385&r=afr
  4. By: Simplice A. Asongu (Yaounde, Cameroon); Nicholas M. Odhiambo (Pretoria, South Africa)
    Abstract: The present study investigates the nexus between health performance dynamics and economic growth in 43 countries in sub-Saharan Africa for the period 2004-2018. Four health performance dynamics are used, notably: total life expectancy, male life expectancy, female life expectancy and risk of maternal death. The empirical evidence is based on quantile regressions in order to put into perspective the conditional distribution of economic growth. The following findings are established: (i) total life expectancy and male life expectancy increase economic growth exclusively in the 10th and 90th quantiles of economic growth; (ii) female life expectancy boosts economic growth in the 90th quantile of economic growth and (iii) the risk of maternal death reduces economic growth in the 75th and 90th quantiles of economic growth. Policy implications are discussed. The study complements the literature on the nexus between health performance and economic growth by assessing the nexuses throughout the conditional distribution of economic growth.
    Keywords: health performance; economic growth; sub-Saharan Africa; quantile regression
    JEL: D31 I10 I32 K40 O55
    Date: 2023–01
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:agd:wpaper:23/029&r=afr

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