Does Government Expenditure Spur Growth In ECOWAS?

The paper attempts to investigate the relationship between government expenditure and economic growth in fifteen ECOWAS countries for the period of 2000-2010. The study adopts a panel data framework using the fixed and random effect model; the Hausman test employed in the model emphasized the appropriateness of the fixed effect model. The study found the indicator of government expenditure to induce a positive inelastic variation on economic growth; while the growth rates of government expenditure induce a nearly perfect inelastic negative variation on the GDP growth rates, this would not be unconnected with the weak fiscal discipline in the Nigerian economy. Our finding from estimation of growth rates is more pertinent to this study since the inclusion of rates would have accounted for the periodic effect. Prominent policy recommendation is the need to develop institutions that would ensure realistic, transparent and appropriate channelling of government expenditure towards productive economic activities

Electricity Consumption and Economic Growth in Nigeria

The paper seeks to examine the relationship between electricity consumption and economic growth in Nigeria using the Johansen and Juselius Co-integration technique based on the Cobb-Douglas growth model covering the period 1980-2008. The study adopted also conducted the Vector Error Correction Modelling and the Pairwise Granger Causality test in order to empirically ascertain the error correction adjustment and direction of causality between electricity consumption and economic growth. The study found the existence of a unique co-integrating relationship among the variables in the model with the indicator of electricity consumption impacting significantly on growth. Also, the study shows an evidence of bi-directional causal relationship between electricity consumption and economic growth. Prominent among the policy recommendation, is the need to strengthen the effectiveness of energy generating agencies by ensuring periodic replacement of worn-out equipment in order to drastically curtail transmission power losses

Electricity Consumption and Economic Development in Nigeria

The study examines the relationship between electricity consumption and economic development using an extended neoclassical model for the period 1970-2013. The study incorporates the uniqueness of the Nigerian economy by controlling for the role of institutions, technology, emissions, and economic structure in the electricity consumption-development argument. The study adopted a cointegration analysis based on the Johansen and Juselius (1981) maximum Likelihood approach and a vector error correction model. In order to ensure robustness, the study adopted the wald block endogeneity causality test to ascertain the direction of causal relationship between electricity consumption and economic development. The study found an existence of long-run cointegration equation with electricity consumption inversely related to economic development. Likewise, the vector error correction model failed to reject the null hypothesis of non-convergence in the long-run. Finally, the study found evidence supporting unidirectional causal relationship running from economic development to electricity consumptio

Is Aid Really Dead? Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa

This study examined the relationship between foreign aid and economic development in Sub-Saharan Africa. The study seeks to examine the role of macroeconomic policy in aid effectiveness in SSA countries by adopting a theoretical framework similar to the Endogenous/New Growth model and the System Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) technique of estimation in attempt to overcome the challenge of endogeneity perceived in the institution variables and aid-growth nexus. It was observed that foreign aid does not significantly influenced Real GDP Per Capita in Sub-Saharan Africa, but the relation reverses after controlling for the role of economic policy; though the response of real GDP per capita tends to be infinitely inelastic. Subsequently, capital stock, labour force, institutional quality and human capital meaningfully contributed to economic development in SSA

Large Scale Foreign Land Deals and Agricultural Trade in Africa

This study investigates the implications of foreign land deals in Africa especially with regard to agricultural trade. It is motivated essentially by large scale foreign land deals in Africa, Latin America, Central Asia and Southeast Asia. The empirical model adopted is based on institutional development theory and estimated using the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM). The study found that large scale foreign land deals (LSFLDs) impact negatively on agricultural export in selected countries and the indexes of institutional framework used were found to be significant. Likewise, agricultural land becomes highly significant with relatively larger magnitude when interacted with institutional indexes. This therefore implies that as more agricultural land is acquired, agricultural export tends to dwindle and incidences of food insecurity are heightened. The evidence from empirical investigation suggests the need for controlling the issue of massive foreign land deals through viable institutional framework, which can be engendered by building sound legal and procedural measures that will protect local rights and take into account the aspirations of local farmers and the welfare of citizenr

Income Heterogeneity and Environmental Kuznets Curve in Africa

The Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis asserts that pollution levels rises as a country develops, but reaches a certain threshold where pollution begins to fall with increasing income. In EKC analysis, the relationship between environmental degradation and income is usually expressed as a quadratic function with turning point occurring at a maximum pollution level. This study seeks to examine the pattern and nature of EKC in Africa and major income groups according to World Bank classification comprising low income, lower middle income and upper middle income in Africa. In ensuring the robustness of our study; the paper proceeded by ascertaining the nature of EKC in all fifty-three countries of Africa in order to confirm the results obtained from basic and augmented EKC model. The study could not validate EKC hypothesis in Africa (combined), low income and upper middle income but empirical and analytical evidences supports the existence of EKC in lower middle income countries. Likewise, evidences from the robustness checks confirmed the findings from the basic and augmented EKC model. The study could not attain a reasonable turning point as there are evidences that Africa could be turning on the EKC at lower levels of income. Also, there is need to strengthen institutions in order to enforce policies that prohibits environmental pollution and ensure pro-poor development agenda

EXCHANGE RATE PASS-THROUGH TO CONSUMER PRICES IN NIGERIA

The increasing overdependence of Nigerian economy on imports has necessitated the need to continually examine the effect of exchange rate shocks in consumer prices. The paper adopts a Structural Vector autoregressive to estimate the pass-through effect of exchange rate changes to consumer prices. Using the Variance Decomposition analyses, the study found a substantially large exchange rate pass-through to inflation in Nigeria. Finding shows that exchange rate has been more important in explaining Nigeria’s rising inflation phenomenon than the actual money supply. Therefore, it is recommended that Nigerian economy focuses on policies that ensure exchange rate stability and sound monetary surveillance

An Assessment of the State of Environmental Management in Nigerian Capital Cities

It has been observed that daily interaction of millions of Nigerian population estimated at 186.5 million by Population Reference Bureau (PRB) with their immediate environment have serious implications on the landscape, environmental aesthetics and atmospheric well-being. Urban decadence, proliferation of slums, deforestation, congestion and all forms of pollution are some of the resultant effects of man’s interaction with his environment which results in adverse effects on Nigeria major cities. Increased industrial activities have engendered more carbon emission in the country, which it is estimated at 26.1 million tons per annum, the fourth highest in Africa. This paper examines the state of environmental management in the state capital cities of Nigeria in the light of five research-proven indicators of environment-friendly cities. The paper applies qualitative method using the indicators to examine which state capital is really environment-friendly out of the thirty seven (37) in Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. Results show that only five (5) state capitals out of the thirty seven (37) in Nigeria can be referred to as being environmentfriendly. The study outlines notable recommendations capable of stimulating the attention and enhancing the efforts of less environment sensitive cities in adopting global best practices

Environmental quality and economic growth in Nigeria: A fractional cointegration analysis

The paper investigates the relationship between environmental quality and economic growth in Nigeria using a fractional cointegration analysis over the period 1970-2011. It seeks to examine the effect of growth on environmental performance by controlling for the role of institutional quality, trade openness and population density. The paper found that early stages of development in Nigeria accentuate the level of environmental degradation. It also finds that weak institutions and unrestricted trade openness increase the extent of environmental degradation due to environmental dumping. Finally, the paper shows that a larger population density enhances the promptness of environmental abatement measures and consciousness for cleaner environment. The study, however, failed to attain a reasonable turning point and hence a non-existence of EKC in Nigeria. The paper recommends the need to restrict the importation of emission intensive products, check the activities of multi-nationals which invest in producing high CO2 emitting goods in LDCs and exports to home countries. Finally, there is need to strengthen institutional quality to ensure adoption of clean technologies as income rises

HEALTH IMPLICATION OF CHILD MARRIAGE IN NORTH-EAST NIGERIA

Marriage at its right time and with the right and self-selected person is one of the best things that can happen to a man. Unfortunately, as glamorous such a day of espousal would have been, child marriage has made it sour for child brides as most of them are forced into it, particularly in their mid-teens; thereby aborting beautiful and achievable life goals and future ambitions. This paper examines the factors inducing child marriage in the most endemic location in the country North-Eastern Nigeria and the health implications on victims. Primary data i.e. questionnaire andsecondary data from Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS, 2008) were used. A Focus Group Discussion (FGD) was also held with a group of child wives, all of who are less than 18 years. Results show that povertyand limited educational attainment are the two main cause of child marriage in the study resulting to different health problems. Recommendations were made to curb this infamous practice in Northeastern Nigeria as is a globally acceptable fact that delaying marriage until a lady is physically and physiologically mature improves her health